Wayve, Uber and Nissan Collaborate on Tokyo Robotaxis

Wayve, Uber and Nissan have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on robotaxi development, with plans to begin testing the service in Tokyo by late 2026. The pilot will introduce Nissan LEAF vehicles equipped with Wayve’s AI Driver, while Uber will provide the ride hailing platform through which passengers can access the service.

This is Uber’s first autonomous vehicle partnership in Japan. It also fits into a larger plan already underway between Wayve and Uber to expand robotaxi services globally. The companies are looking at more than ten cities for deployment, with London also part of that roadmap.

The collaboration brings three different roles together. Wayve will provide its end to end AI autonomous driving system. Nissan will supply the vehicle platform capable of integrating the technology. Uber will connect the robotaxis to riders through its existing mobility network.

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The first phase will not be fully driverless. Vehicles will operate on the Uber platform with a trained safety operator inside the car. The plan involves starting robotaxi services in stages which enable passengers to use the service during their regular travels.

Tokyo is not an easy testing ground. Dense traffic, complicated road layouts and strict safety expectations make it one of the toughest urban driving environments. Wayve’s AI Driver is designed to learn directly from real world data and adapt to new roads and cities without relying on high definition maps, which the company believes will help scale the system across different markets.

Uber plans to roll out the service in Japan through a licensed taxi partner and is currently in the process of selecting one while working with local authorities.

The companies also shared an early look at the robotaxi prototype built on the Nissan LEAF. By combining Wayve’s AI system, Nissan’s vehicles and Uber’s global mobility network, the partners are aiming to move autonomous ride services closer to everyday use.