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Uber Signs Autonomous-Driving Partnership
Nissan Leaf-Based Robo-Taxis Planned
Pilot Service Planned in Tokyo for 2026
Nissan, Wayve, Uber CEOs – Source: Nissan
Uber has signed its first autonomous-vehicle partnership in Japan.
Uber announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with autonomous-driving startup Wayve and automaker Nissan to develop robo-taxis.
The partners plan to launch robo-taxi service in Tokyo, aiming to begin pilot operations in late 2026 pending approval from local authorities.
This is Uber’s first autonomous-vehicle project in Japan and a key milestone in the company’s global robo-taxi expansion strategy.
Nissan Leaf-Based Robo-Taxis
Leaf Robo-Taxi – Source: Nissan
The pilot will use Nissan Leaf–based robo-taxis.
The vehicles will be equipped with Wayve’s AI Driver system and integrated with Uber’s ride-hailing platform, allowing riders to request robo-taxis directly from the Uber app.
At launch, safety operators will be on board to validate system performance and give passengers a supervised introduction to the technology.
AI Autonomous Driving That Learns Without HD Maps
Leaf Robo-Taxi – Source: Nissan
Wayve’s AI Driver autonomous system
doesn’t depend heavily on high-definition maps (HD maps) the way traditional systems do.
It is trained on real-world driving data and designed to adapt quickly to new cities and road conditions. Tokyo’s dense traffic patterns and strict safety requirements make it a critical proving ground for the technology.
Wayve CEO Alex Kendall said, “Tokyo is one of the world’s most sophisticated mobility markets.” He added that Wayve will introduce robo-taxi technology responsibly, drawing on its experience operating on Japanese roads.
Global Robo-Taxi Expansion Strategy
Leaf Robo-Taxi – Source: Nissan
The project is part of Wayve and Uber’s plan to expand robo-taxi services globally; the partners aim to deploy autonomous-driving services in more than 10 cities worldwide, including London.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described autonomous driving as “a central pillar” of Uber’s future platform, saying Tokyo is a key market for addressing driver shortages and driving urban mobility innovation.
The three companies intend to combine Nissan vehicles, Wayve’s AI technology and the Uber platform to build a safe, scalable autonomous mobility service.
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