Wayve

Wayve

End-to-end autonomous-driving software for vehicles

Overview

Wayve provides end-to-end autonomous-driving software for automakers and fleets that runs entirely on onboard compute and sensors, without relying on HD maps or city-by-city engineering. The system uses foundation models capable of zero-shot driving and has demonstrated ability to drive across 500+ cities in Europe, North America, and Japan. Unlike traditional AV stacks that depend on mapped data and per-city customization, Wayve aims to generalize driving with its onboard AI across diverse environments. Its goal is to scale commercial robotaxi trials from 2026 and bring supervised autonomy to consumer vehicles from 2027, backed by substantial funding partnerships to support rapid deployment.

About Wayve

Simplify's Rating
Why Wayve is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Robotics & Automation

Automotive & Transportation

AI & Machine Learning

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Series D

Total Funding

$2.6B

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Founded

2017

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Wayve raised $1.2 billion in February 2026, reaching $8.6 billion valuation.
  • Wayve launched supervised London robotaxi rides with Uber on September 3, 2026.
  • Wayve hired ex-Waymo CFO Elisa de Martel and added $85 million employee liquidity.

What critics are saying

  • London’s fully driverless approval process is incomplete; no operator cleared through DVSA.
  • Wayve’s public London service still uses safety drivers, delaying true autonomy economics.
  • If Uber or Mercedes pause, Wayve loses validation, revenue, and follow-on financing momentum.

What makes Wayve unique

  • Wayve’s end-to-end AI Driver skips HD maps and city-by-city engineering.
  • Mercedes-Benz signed a production agreement with Wayve on September 22, 2026.
  • Wayve now spans robotaxis, consumer vehicles, and fleet licensing across multiple automakers.

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Funding

Total Funding

$2.6B

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

9 Rounds

Notable Investors:
Series D funding is typically for companies that are already well-established but need more funding to continue their growth. This round is often used to stabilize the company or prepare for an IPO.
Series D Funding Comparison
Below Average

Industry standards

$77M
$60M
Wayve
$70M
Twilio
$80M
Handshake
$100M
Affirm

Benefits

Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

↑ 1%

1 year growth

↑ 2%

2 year growth

↑ 3%
TechDay
Sep 25th, 2026
Nvidia says major robotaxi programmes use its stack.

Nvidia says major robotaxi programmes use its stack. Sat, 26th Sep 2026 (Today) Nvidia says every major robotaxi programme operating at commercial scale uses parts of its autonomous vehicle technology stack, which spans AI training, simulation, validation and in-vehicle computing. The claim places Nvidia at the centre of a fast-growing robotaxi market that could reach USD $400 billion by 2035, with more than 6 million commercial vehicles in operation. It described robotaxi development as a three-computer system covering model training in the data centre, simulation and validation in virtual environments, and real-time computing inside vehicles. For training, Nvidia highlighted its DGX systems and Alpamayo portfolio of vision, language and action models, simulation frameworks and physical AI datasets. Developers can adapt those tools to their own data and software. Nvidia added that reasoning models are meant to handle difficult edge cases in autonomous driving by breaking decisions into smaller steps. To support that pitch, Nvidia cited internal testing. In one autonomous driving evaluation, it said adding meta-action and chain-of-thought reasoning data improved trajectory prediction accuracy and reduced minimum average displacement error by 43%, from 2.08 to 1.18. Simulation stack Simulation remains central for robotaxi operators because real-world driving alone does not produce enough examples of rare or dangerous scenarios. Nvidia said its Omniverse NuRec models can reconstruct real-world driving scenes from sensor data, while its Cosmos world foundation models can generate variations in traffic, weather, lighting and sensor conditions. The tools are intended to help developers turn thousands of corner cases into much larger sets of test conditions. Nvidia said the software runs on RTX PRO Servers and supports closed-loop simulation and validation, while its AlpaSim framework is used to train and evaluate reasoning-based driving models before deployment on roads. Inside the vehicle, Nvidia highlighted DRIVE Hyperion 10, its reference architecture for level 4-ready robotaxis. The system combines dual DRIVE AGX Thor chips with a sensor suite that includes 14 cameras, nine radars, three lidars and 12 ultrasonic sensors. According to Nvidia, the design includes redundancy in both computing and sensing so the vehicle can continue operating if one element fails. It also said its Halos safety system provides an operating system and a broader validation framework covering inspection, validation, simulation and continuous testing. Industry uptake Nvidia used the announcement to list a broad range of partners and customers across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, spanning ride-hailing groups, autonomous driving developers, vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers. Among the most prominent names, Uber is scaling a fleet based on DRIVE Hyperion and working with Nvidia on a robotaxi AI data factory that uses Cosmos to curate driving data for rare scenarios. Uber is also collaborating with Autobrains, Avride, Lucid, May Mobility, Mercedes-Benz, Momenta, Nissan, Nuro, Pony.ai, Stellantis, Waabi, Wayve, WeRide and Zoox. Other transport platforms are part of the push as well. Bolt is using Nvidia technology in its autonomous vehicle efforts in Europe, while Lyft plans to use DRIVE Hyperion as a reference architecture for future autonomous fleets. May Mobility vehicles already operate on Lyft's network in Atlanta using Nvidia DRIVE. Several autonomous vehicle developers are building their software and vehicle systems around Nvidia hardware and software. Wayve, Nissan and Uber are working on a global robotaxi programme using a prototype vehicle that combines Nissan engineering, Wayve's embodied AI and DRIVE Hyperion. Zoox uses Nvidia DRIVE for in-vehicle computing as well as cloud-based training and simulation, while Pony.ai developed its new autonomous driving domain controller with DRIVE Hyperion and DRIVE AGX Thor. Momenta is developing its software stack on DRIVE AGX running on DriveOS. Tensor is building its level 4 Robocar with eight DRIVE AGX Thor systems-on-a-chip in its in-vehicle supercomputer, and Waabi's Waabi Driver platform is built on DRIVE AGX Thor as it moves into robotaxi deployment with Uber. Production phase Automakers are also moving beyond development towards production programmes that include Nvidia technology. Tesla uses Nvidia supercomputers to train its autonomous-driving neural networks, while Mercedes-Benz is working with Nvidia and Uber on a robotaxi ecosystem based on the S-Class and Nvidia's level 4 software and AI models. Stellantis, Wayve and Uber are also developing driverless mobility services using DRIVE Hyperion and Nvidia AI computing products. Lucid, Nuro and Uber are working on a global robotaxi service using DRIVE AGX Thor, and Hyundai Motor and Kia are expanding their collaboration with Nvidia on data-driven autonomous-driving systems built on DRIVE Hyperion. Elsewhere, Geely and its partners plan to develop and commercialise robotaxis using DRIVE Hyperion, while Zeekr has adopted DRIVE AGX Thor for a centralised domain controller. Lenovo is supplying an AD1 level 4 domain controller based on DRIVE AGX Thor for a next-generation robotaxi programme with SWM. The breadth of those relationships shows how robotaxi economics increasingly depend on a common set of computing tools, from training data centres to simulation software and vehicle hardware. Rather than backing a single operator, Nvidia is positioning itself as a supplier across nearly every layer of the robotaxi market, from cloud systems used to train models to the processors and sensor architectures installed in the vehicles. From cloud to car, nearly every layer of the robotaxi platform is being developed on Nvidia accelerated computing.

Telemetry Agency
Sep 24th, 2026
September 23, 2026 - Wayve gets Mercedes-Benz as customer.

September 23, 2026 - Wayve gets Mercedes-Benz as customer. 8 hours ago This is the Telemetry Transportation Daily for September 23, 2026, and I'm Sam Abuelsamid, Vice President of Market Research for Telemetry. UK-based Wayve has been on a roll for the past year. The developer of assisted- and automated-driving software has won a third production deal with an automaker, with today's announcement that it will be supplying Mercedes-Benz. Previously, Wayve got production design wins from Nissan and Stellantis to provide software for hands-off and eyes-off driving assist, with the Nissan program expected to launch during its 2027 fiscal year. The Stellantis programs will probably begin launching in 2028. The program announcement with Mercedes-Benz is sparse on details apart from saying it will launch within two years. It comes as something of a surprise since Mercedes-Benz has been working with Nvidia for several years, and this year became the first automaker to launch a production program based on Nvidia's full Hyperion drive stack, including the new Alpamayo world-driving model. In addition to running on Nvidia Orin chips, Mercedes-Benz is using an Nvidia operating system, a classical driving model, Alpamayo, and a safety and policy evaluator. The Wayve Driver system already runs on Nvidia compute hardware, so it's possible that the change may not require any hardware updates for Mercedes-Benz. While Mercedes-Benz has demonstrated point-to-point hands-free driving, which is often referred to as Level 2++ with the CLA, the Nvidia system hasn't been released to customers yet. Even with Wayve coming in, Nvidia will likely still get the revenue from silicon sales. Telemetryagency is seeing an ongoing shift in the global marketplace for advanced driver-assist systems and automated driving. China, which is the largest market by far, is adopting locally produced solutions from companies like Horizon and Huawei. Western companies seem to be shifting strategy regularly between in-house solutions and new and established vendors, including Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Mobileye. It will be very interesting to watch if Ford and GM can successfully develop their own in-house solutions over the next couple of years or if they pivot back to suppliers. Thanks for listening.

PHP Rent a Car
Sep 23rd, 2026
Artificial intelligence arrives on Mercedes-Benz production models through a strategic partnership for driving assistance.

Artificial intelligence arrives on Mercedes-Benz production models through a strategic partnership for driving assistance. 23.09.2026 Author: Php Rent a Car Mercedes-Benz and Wayve develop 'AI driver', advanced assistance technology debuts in the next two years. Strategic partnership for the future of intelligent mobility. Mercedes-Benz has formalized a wide-ranging technology partnership with the British company Wayve, specialized in the development of artificial intelligence systems for mobility. The project aims to create advanced software designed to function as a "virtual chauffeur" to assist the driver in various traffic scenarios. The new collaboration marks an important step in the integration of machine learning algorithms in the automotive industry. The project does not involve an expansion of the existing model range, but rather the addition of a software component capable of quickly processing complex driving environments and providing direct support to the driver. How the new AI-based assistant works. The system, developed in partnership with Wayve, is designed as an intelligent digital assistant, designed to reduce stress at the wheel and increase road safety. It is optimized to handle difficult situations both in congested urban traffic and on high-speed motorway sections. The fundamental differences of the new technology include: * Real-time contextual analysis: Artificial intelligence constantly evaluates the behavior of other road users and anticipates potential dangers. * Adaptive assistance: The software adjusts the car's suggestions and reactions based on road conditions, from tight maneuvers in the city to maintaining lane and distance on the highway. * Software-only component: The technology functions as a digital processing layer and does not replace the vehicle's existing mechanical architecture or sensors. Assisted driving versus autonomous driving: A clear distinction. The German manufacturer and its partners at Wayve emphasize that the new "AI driver" is a driver assistance system and not a replacement for fully autonomous systems. The two technologies are structured to operate separately, with well-defined roles. While autonomous driving systems take full control under specific conditions, the new AI assistant works in the background alongside the human. The real driver retains full responsibility for the vehicle, having the obligation to constantly monitor traffic and take over manual control whenever the situation requires it. Scheduled for release in the next two years. The software platform developed by Mercedes-Benz and Wayve is to be integrated into the German brand's production models within two years. For now, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer has not revealed which will be the first production model to benefit from this technology, nor the markets where the new virtual assistant will be launched in the first phase, with commercial details to be communicated closer to the official launch.

ZAG Daily
Sep 22nd, 2026
Mercedes to bring Wayve AI Driver to consumer vehicles.

Mercedes to bring Wayve AI Driver to consumer vehicles. Mercedes-Benz will bring Wayve's AI Driver into future production models, widening the route for Wayve to scale its automated driving technology beyond robotaxis and into cars driven by private customers. * 22 September 2026 Mercedes-Benz is to integrate Wayve's automated driving technology into future models within the next two years. A definitive production agreement announced today will see the German automaker fit the Wayve AI Driver into its upcoming vehicles to enable what the companies call "advanced urban and highway point-to-point driving assistance". The deal comes after Mercedes participated in Wayve's $1.2 billion Series D funding round earlier this year alongside global automakers Nissan and Stellantis. It also counts Wayve's third production deal for consumer cars in nine months. "This partnership marks the world's first integration of the Wayve AI Driver in the premium segment, expanding the availability of advanced urban and highway point-to-point driving assistance," said Jörg Burzer, Chief Technology Officer of Mercedes-Benz. "Together with Wayve, we are laying the foundation to roll out this technology worldwide and deliver an outstanding driving experience to a broader range of customers." The details have been left vague with no mention of which Mercedes model will receive the AI Driver, no specified driving automation level or first markets and no detailed timeline beyond "in the next two years". Crucially, though, it's notably different from the robotaxi partnerships that have put Wayve in the headlines alongside Uber, Nissan and Stellantis. With Mercedes, Wayve's technology will be scaled across vehicles for private customers, rather than deployed as part of a driverless ride-hailing fleet. Mercedes already develops automated driving technology itself, with its L3 Drive Pilot system commercially available on its S-Class and EQS models. Wayve takes a different technical approach. Its AI Driver is designed to operate without high-definition maps, using what the company describes as "embodied AI" trained on driving data rather than relying on extensive location-specific engineering. Wayve licenses the technology to vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators and says its AI Driver can support a range of applications from advanced driver assistance through to fully driverless vehicles. The details remain sparse and Zag will be investigating what the Mercedes deployment will look like in practice. But the agreement points to an increasingly relevant route for Wayve to scale automated driving beyond robotaxis, embedding its technology directly into cars sold to private customers.

ARY News
Sep 22nd, 2026
Mercedes, Wayve partner up on autonomous driving.

Mercedes, Wayve partner up on autonomous driving. * By Reuters- * Sep 22, 2026 German carmaker Mercedes-Benz and UK-based start-up Wayve said on Tuesday they signed an agreement to integrate Wayve's autonomous driving system into future Mercedes vehicles, starting in the next two years. The announcement, issued from London, frames the arrangement as a global strategic partnership reflecting what both companies describe as a shared ambition to bring intelligent and scalable driving assistance technology to markets worldwide. Alongside urban driving, the stated scope of the integration includes advanced highway point-to-point driving assistance. Jörg Burzer, Chief Technology Officer of Mercedes-Benz, described the partnership as the world's first integration of the Wayve AI Driver in the premium segment, expanding the availability of advanced urban and highway point-to-point driving assistance. He said the two companies are laying the foundation to roll the technology out worldwide and to deliver what he called an outstanding driving experience to a broader range of customers. Alex Kendall, Co-founder and CEO of Wayve, said his company was excited to partner with Mercedes-Benz, which he described as an iconic company with a strong reputation for automotive innovation and engineering excellence. "The pace and depth of our development work together reflect a deep technical alignment between our teams, integrating Wayve's embodied intelligence with Mercedes-Benz's vehicle engineering and safety expertise," Kendall said, adding that he was proud to build the future of autonomous driving together with Mercedes-Benz.

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