Nissan to deploy tech from AI self-driving startup Wayve
Nissan announced on Wednesday that it will integrate AI-powered systems developed by British autonomous driving startup Wayve into its vehicles, marking Wayve’s first deal to supply technology to a major automaker at scale. While fully driverless cars are still a future goal, the companies said the collaboration would accelerate the development of self-driving systems in real-world conditions.
Wayve’s AI technology, which the company said last year was backed by over $1 billion in funding, does not rely on pre-programmed maps. Instead, it navigates dynamically in real time, allowing vehicles to respond to changing road conditions. In September, Nissan showcased a prototype combining Wayve’s self-driving software with its own advanced laser sensors.
“We aim to build an autonomy that can operate globally,” Wayve CEO Alex Kendall told AFP. “We provide the AI software, and Nissan can integrate it with the vehicles and hardware that best suit their business.” Wayve has begun training its AI models and conducting supervised on-road testing in cities such as London and Tokyo.
Under the partnership, Nissan will incorporate Wayve’s AI systems into its ProPILOT advanced driver-assistance platform. The first Nissan vehicles equipped with this next-generation ProPILOT technology are expected to launch in Japan in fiscal 2027, with North America to follow. The joint statement emphasized that Nissan is the first automaker to commit to deploying Wayve’s AI at scale, signaling a significant step in the company’s self-driving ambitions.
Nissan’s push comes amid ongoing challenges, including a fiercely competitive global market, US trade tariffs, and the lingering effects of former CEO Carlos Ghosn’s arrest and subsequent escape from Japan. The company hopes the partnership with Wayve will strengthen its position in emerging autonomous vehicle markets.
The self-driving sector has seen rapid progress, particularly in the US, where Tesla and Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving subsidiary, are testing robotaxi services. Kendall noted that Nissan’s collaboration with Wayve is non-exclusive. The startup is also working with ride-hailing giant Uber in London to develop and eventually launch fully autonomous robotaxi trials on public roads.
By combining Nissan’s global reach and vehicle platforms with Wayve’s AI navigation capabilities, the partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems worldwide, while laying the groundwork for more sophisticated self-driving solutions in the years ahead.
