Nissan joins Uber and Wayve to launch robotaxis

Nissan has joined forces with Uber and Wayve to bring robotaxis to market. The three companies have already signed a memorandum of understanding covering joint work on technology development and rolling out the service.

Tokyo pilot with a Nissan Leaf planned for late 2026

According to the carmaker’s statement, preparations are now under way for a pilot programme in Tokyo, scheduled to start towards the end of 2026 using a Nissan Leaf. The vehicle will run with the Wayve AI Driver on board, and passengers will be able to access it through Uber.

How the Nissan–Wayve–Uber robotaxi partnership is set up

The project follows a clear strategic triangle: Nissan supplies the vehicle, Wayve provides the AI-based autonomous driving system, and Uber delivers the link between car and passenger. The aim is to build a service that can handle some of the world’s most demanding city environments, including the Japanese capital, which is known for heavy traffic and irregular road layouts.

Wayve and Uber have already trialled the technology in London, and the plan is to scale it to more than ten cities worldwide. At the start, the vehicles will not operate completely alone; instead, a trained safety operator will remain on board to supervise each trip and help build confidence among early users.

“​​Nissan’s vision is to bring intelligent mobility into everyday life, and we believe this initiative reflects how we turn that ambition into real-world applications,” added Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s Chief Executive Officer.

The end of traditional maps

A key technical differentiator in the collaboration is that Wayve’s system does not rely on pre-loaded maps, adjusting in real time to dynamic urban settings. This approach is intended to keep the service both scalable and safe, matching Nissan’s ambition to make “intelligent mobility” part of people’s day-to-day lives.

Uber plans to introduce the service via a licensed taxi partner in Japan, working closely with local authorities, and is currently choosing its partners.

“Autonomous mobility is becoming an increasingly important part of our platform,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s Chief Executive Officer.