Wayve, Uber and Nissan Motor Co Ltd have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development and deployment of robotaxi services. They plan to start the pilot program in Tokyo by the end of 2026 with the Nissan LEAF equipped with Wayve AI Driver and accessed via the Uber platform.
This collaboration marks the very first time that Uber has partnered with an autonomous vehicle company in Japan. Moreover, it represents another step towards the global robotaxi launch that Wayve and Uber are currently pursuing. The companies have planned to introduce autonomous mobility services in over ten cities worldwide including London.
Integrating AI Autonomous Driving with Ride-Hailing Platforms
In the proposed framework, the end-to-end AI autonomous driving technology developed by Wayve will be integrated into Nissan’s production vehicles. These vehicles will be able to support the Wayve AI Driver and connect with the Uber ride-hailing system seamlessly, thus enabling robotaxis to be dispatched to passengers who need a ride.
In the initial phase of deployment, the robotaxis will be deployed with a safety operator inside the vehicle while operating on the Uber system. This will enable users of the robotaxis service to experience the robotaxis as part of their regular transportation.
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Tackling Complex Urban Mobility Environments
The companies intend to deploy their robotaxi services in Tokyo, one of the world’s most complex urban mobility environments due to dense traffic conditions, intricate road networks and strict safety requirements. The pilot will provide an opportunity to test autonomous driving technology in real-world conditions within one of the most demanding cities for transportation innovation.
Wayve’s AI Driver relies on real-world driving data to learn and is able to adjust its behavior in new environments without depending on high-definition maps. Because of this, the AI driver can be deployed in new regions much faster and Wayve can even run their cars in rapidly changing urban areas such as Tokyo.
“Tokyo represents an important step forward in bringing embodied intelligence to one of the world’s most sophisticated mobility markets. We have been testing our technology throughout Japan since early 2025, building extensive experience in the country’s unique road environments. Partnering with Uber and Nissan to begin pilot deployment of Robotaxi allows us to introduce this technology in a responsible way, while continuing to learn and expand,” said Alex Kendall, Cofounder & CEO, Wayve.
“Nissan is proud to collaborate in this next chapter of mobility innovation. Our work with Wayve to integrate advanced AI technology across our consumer vehicle portfolio has laid strong foundations, and we are excited to take this partnership further with a pilot deployment of Robotaxi in Tokyo, bringing together Wayve’s AI technology, Uber’s network, and Nissan vehicles. Nissan’s vision is to bring mobility intelligence to everyday life, and we believe this initiative reflects how we translate that ambition into real-world applications,” said Ivan Espinosa, President and CEO, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
“Autonomous mobility is becoming an increasingly important part of the Uber platform. We are excited to expand our collaboration with Wayve and to work with Nissan to bring robotaxi services to Tokyo. Following our planned pilot deployment in London, we look forward to expanding into Tokyo and introducing new, modern ways to travel in some of the world’s largest cities. It also reflects our long-term commitment to Japan, a critical market where innovation can help address driver shortages and support the future of urban transportation. Our goal is to give riders more ways to move with seamless access through the Uber app,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO, Uber.
