Tokyo 's streets are considered some of the most demanding driving environments in the world. Dense intersections, narrow lanes, complex signage and a culture of precision that tolerates neither delay nor error make the Japanese capital a city where even experienced drivers tread carefully. It's precisely this difficulty that makes it the right place to prove something . Uber , British self-driving startup Wayve and Nissan announced on Thursday that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and pilot a service robotaxi in Tokyo . The first tests are scheduled for late 2026 , subject to regulatory approval.
Uber, Wayve and Nissan collaborate on robotaxi
Under the agreement, Nissan LEAF will be equipped with Wayve’s AI Driver, a fully autonomous system that the company has been testing in Japan since early 2025. The vehicles will be available to passengers through Uber. Initially, a trained safety operator will remain in each vehicle.
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Uber intends to launch the service through a licensed taxi partner in Japan and is currently in the selection process.
For Wayve, founded in Cambridge in 2017 by Alex Kendall and Amar Shah, the announcement is another step in a commercial push that began last month. On February 25, the company raised $1.2 billion in a Series D round led by Eclipse, Balderton and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, valuing it at $8.6 billion. Uber , Microsoft, Nvidia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Stellantis were among the participants.
Uber has separately committed to investing up to $300 million in capital to support multi-year robotaxi deployments across Wayve's network.
Tokyo is the second city confirmed for this network, after London, where robotaxi trials are expected to begin as early as 2026. The broader plan covers more than ten cities worldwide.
Wayve's core technical argument is that autonomous driving shouldn't require city-by-city redesign. Its AI Driver learns from real-world data and operates without high-resolution maps, which the company says allows for deployment in new environments with minimal localization costs.
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It claims to be the first autonomous vehicle to have driven without city-by-city customization in more than 500 cities in Europe, North America, and Japan within a year.
“Tokyo represents a significant step forward in introducing embedded intelligence to one of the world’s most advanced mobility markets,” said Wayve CEO Alex Kendall. “We have been testing our technology across Japan since early 2025, gaining extensive experience in the country’s unique road environments.”
For Nissan , the partnership deepens an existing relationship. The automaker is incorporating Wayve’s AI into its next-generation ProPILOT driver assistance system . The first consumer vehicles are expected in fiscal 2027. The robotaxi pilot in Tokyo is, in essence, a commercial testing ground for the technology that Nissan plans to incorporate into mass-market cars.
“Nissan’s vision is to bring mobility intelligence to everyday life,” said Nissan President and CEO Ivan Espinosa. “This initiative reflects how we translate that ambition into real-world applications.”
See also: Wayve and Uber plan robotaxi service for London
For Uber, Japan has long been a complicated market. The country’s taxi licensing regime is strict, and Uber operates there primarily through a licensed partner model, rather than the direct network of drivers it uses elsewhere. The robotaxi partnership circumvents this structural limitation: autonomous vehicles operating through a licensed taxi company fit more seamlessly into Japan’s regulatory framework.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahidescribed the partnership as part of a long-term commitment, not a one-time move. “Autonomous mobility is becoming an increasingly important part of the Uber platform,” he said. “We look forward to expanding to Tokyo and introducing new, modern ways to get around in some of the world’s largest cities.”
