Wayve, Uber, and Nissan plan Tokyo robotaxi service

U.K.-based autonomous vehicle software company Wayve, ride-hailing platform Uber, and automotive manufacturer Nissan have announced a partnership to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo, Japan. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies plan to deploy a pilot program for the autonomous taxi service, which is currently scheduled for late 2026. This project marks a major milestone for the partners as they look to establish a footprint in Tokyo, combining Wayve’s software expertise with Nissan’s manufacturing capabilities and Uber’s established ride-hail network. The collaboration represents Uber’s first robotaxi partnership in Japan, marking a significant expansion of its autonomous vehicle strategy into the country.

As part of the collaboration, Wayve will integrate its autonomous software into a Nissan Leaf. Wayve reports that its self-driving software is designed to be hardware-agnostic, meaning it can work on any vehicle with any hardware configuration. Crucially, the software operates without the use of an HD map—which is a high-definition map used for navigation. This approach allows the software to function across different vehicle types and hardware setups without relying on pre-mapped environments. While the initial pilot in Tokyo is scheduled for late 2026, the collaboration extends further into the future; Wayve is also integrating its driver-assistance technology into Nissan vehicles that are slated for production in 2027.

The partnership comes on the heels of Wayve securing $1.2 billion in a recent funding round, providing the company with substantial capital to scale its operations. For Uber, the agreement aligns with its ongoing efforts to expand its autonomous vehicle network. The ride-hail giant has struck more than 25 partnerships to date with various autonomous vehicle developers. This includes a recently announced plan to make Zoox’s purpose-built robotaxi available on the Uber app in Las Vegas, as well as Wayve’s separate efforts to launch another robotaxi service in London with Uber. These parallel initiatives highlight how both companies are actively scaling their respective technologies and networks across London, Las Vegas, and Tokyo, positioning Uber as a central platform for autonomous ride-hailing in the U.K. and Japan.

Why it matters

This deal marks Uber’s first robotaxi partnership in Japan and underscores the company’s aggressive strategy to secure its position as the primary platform for autonomous ride-hailing.