Key Takeaways
- A memorandum of understanding has been signed among Uber, Nissan, and Wayve to bring autonomous taxis to Tokyo.
- Launch is scheduled for late 2026, utilizing Nissan’s LEAF electric vehicle equipped with Wayve’s artificial intelligence driving technology through Uber’s app.
- Safety operators will remain in vehicles throughout the initial deployment phase.
- This represents Uber’s inaugural autonomous vehicle collaboration in the Japanese market, contributing to expansion across more than 10 cities worldwide.
- Wayve secured $1.2 billion in Series D funding, bringing its valuation to $8.6 billion.
Shares of Uber (UBER) climbed 3.61% following the announcement of a tripartite collaboration with Nissan (NSANY) and British autonomous driving technology firm Wayve to bring self-driving taxi services to Tokyo.
A memorandum of understanding has been executed among the three entities to create and launch the autonomous service, with Tokyo trials scheduled to begin in late 2026.
The initiative involves integrating Wayve’s comprehensive AI-powered autonomous driving platform into Nissan’s LEAF electric vehicles. Customers will access rides through Uber’s established ride-hailing application.
📢 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍: Wayve, Uber & Nissan Partner on Robotaxi Pilot in Tokyo – $UBER $WRD $PONY $TSLA $GOOGL $AMZN $GM $F
👉 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
➤ Wayve, 𝐔𝐛𝐞𝐫, and 𝐍𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧 sign MoU to develop robotaxis.
➤ Pilot robotaxi deployment planned in 𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐲𝐨 by…
— Hardik Shah (@AIStockSavvy) March 12, 2026
Throughout the initial deployment, qualified safety drivers will maintain presence in each vehicle. The partners emphasized this as a measured strategy for introducing autonomous technology to the market.
Wayve has been conducting road tests in Japan since early 2025. This testing phase concentrated on adapting to the nation’s intricate road systems and rigorous safety regulations.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi highlighted that the Tokyo program follows a forthcoming London deployment, positioning it within a broader international expansion strategy. The autonomous service is scheduled to launch across more than 10 metropolitan areas globally.
This agreement represents Uber’s inaugural autonomous vehicle partnership within Japan. The company confirmed it will operate the service through a licensed local taxi operator and is currently in the selection process for this partner.
Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s CEO, characterized the alliance as an extension of ongoing collaboration with Wayve on artificial intelligence capabilities for its vehicle portfolio. He described the Tokyo trial as a logical progression of that relationship.
Wayve’s Massive Funding Round Powers Expansion
Wayve successfully completed a $1.2 billion Series D financing round last month. The funding valued the autonomous driving company at $8.6 billion on a post-money basis.
The financing attracted participation from Uber, Nissan, Microsoft (MSFT), Nvidia (NVDA), Mercedes-Benz (MBGAF), Stellantis (STLA), and SoftBank Group. This represents a diverse coalition of technology giants and automotive manufacturers.
Alex Kendall, CEO of Wayve, emphasized that the Tokyo collaboration enables the company to introduce its technology “in a responsible way” while gathering valuable real-world operational data.
Nissan’s Contribution to the Partnership
Nissan is providing its LEAF electric vehicle as the foundation for the pilot program. Once Wayve’s autonomous system is fully integrated, the vehicle will connect seamlessly to Uber’s network.
Espinosa stated that Nissan aims to deliver “mobility intelligence to everyday life” and views the Tokyo trial as a concrete manifestation of this strategic vision.
Nissan (NSANY) shares increased 1.25% following the announcement.
Uber shares concluded trading with a 3.61% gain on the day the partnership was made public.
