Uber teams up with Nissan, Wayve to launch robotaxi in Japan

Wayve, Uber, and Nissan signed a memorandum of understanding to develop robotaxis. They will prepare a Tokyo pilot for late 2026 using Nissan LEAF vehicles fitted with the Wayve AI Driver and bookable via the Uber app.

Wayve, founded in 2017, will provide the end-to-end AI stack, Nissan supplies vehicles, and Uber integrates the service into its ride-hailing network.

Initial runs will include a trained safety operator in each car, and deployment timing depends on discussions with authorities and a licensed taxi partner in Japan.

Uber said this is its first autonomous vehicle partnership in Japan and part of a planned rollout across more than ten cities, including London.

Wayve said the AI Driver learns from real-world data and can generalize across roads without high-definition maps, supporting faster expansion into new cities.

The partners showed a robotaxi prototype based on the Nissan LEAF and are selecting local partners to support pilot operations.

🔗 Source: Uber

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

### Japan’s regulatory framework provides a pathway for a Tokyo pilot

Japan revised its road traffic law in April 2023 to permit Level 4 autonomous driving on public roads, clearing the way for services like the one proposed 1.
The law set up a permit process that asks operators to file detailed operating plans with local public safety commissions for approval 2.
Eiheiji Town in Fukui Prefecture started Japan’s first Level 4 public-road transport service in May 2023, using a self-driving cart 3.
The government wants self-driving services running in about 50 locations nationwide by March 2026, which fits with this pilot 4.

### The deal signals a strategic shift for Nissan and a possible new industry blueprint

Nissan has struggled with sales in several large markets in recent years, so the partnership reaches beyond robotaxis 5.
Nissan will add Wayve AI technology to the next generation of its ProPILOT driver-assistance systems and aims to launch the first model with that version in Japan in fiscal year 2027 6.
The structure offers an alternative to vertically integrated players like Waymo or Cruise (companies that build much of the self-driving technology stack, vehicles, and operating systems in-house).
Wayve supplies the AI. Nissan builds mass-market cars. Uber adds a ride-hailing network, which could help the group scale commercial service.