Wayve: Now AI Can Power 'Every Vehicle That Moves'
British autonomous driving firm Wayve closes US$1.2bn funding led by Softbank, with support from Microsoft and NVIDIA to scale its AI driver platform
TL;DR
- Wayve closed a US$1.2bn Series D funding round, valuing the company at US$8.6bn.
- The funding was led by Eclipse, Balderton, and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, with significant contributions from Microsoft, NVIDIA, Uber, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Stellantis.
- Funds will be used for the global commercial rollout of Wayve's AI Driver platform.
- The AI Driver uses a foundation model trained on diverse data, operating with onboard compute and sensors, and does not require high-definition maps or location-specific engineering.
- Uber is partnering with Wayve for the deployment of Wayve-powered robotaxis, with the first commercial service planned for London in 2026.
- Consumer vehicles featuring the AI Driver are expected from 2027, starting with L2+ capability.
- Wayve licenses its technology to automakers, allowing for brand-specific customization without extensive hardware redesign.
- Microsoft Azure's cloud infrastructure supports the training of Wayve's foundation models.
- The UK Technology Secretary highlighted the fundraise as reaffirming Britain's position as a leading scale-up ecosystem.