Microsoft-backed Wayve raises $1.5 billion to take its robotaxis global
Business Insider
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Wayve, a UK-based AI startup specializing in autonomous vehicle software, has raised $1.5 billion to expand its robotaxis globally. This funding round, led by major tech giants and automakers including Microsoft, Nvidia, Uber, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Stellantis, values the startup at $8.6 billion. Wayve aims to deploy its self-driving technology across over 10 markets worldwide, starting with London through a partnership with Uber. The company’s CEO, Alex Kendall, emphasized that this is a strategic move to leverage their expertise in British roads while competing with major players like Waymo.
Unlike Tesla or Waymo, Wayve focuses solely on developing software for others to deploy self-driving cars, avoiding the costly route of building its own fleet. This business model allows Wayve to generate high-margin software revenues by licensing its technology to automakers and robotaxi platforms. Kendall highlighted that this approach offers flexibility, enabling their AI driver to adapt quickly to different environments and sensor configurations across various vehicles.
Wayve’s AI driver is designed to be generalizable, learning new driving environments without relying on high-definition mapping or sensors, unlike competitors like Waymo. This technology has been tested in over 500 cities across Europe, North America, and Japan. Wayve also plans to license its advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/25/2026