Wayve rockets to €7.2 billion valuation with €1 billion Series D bet on AI-driven autonomy – backing from Uber and Microsoft
UK-based Wayve has secured a substantial €1 billion in Series D funding, propelling its valuation to €7.2 billion and signalling a major shift towards commercial deployment of its AI-driven autonomous driving technology. This significant investment, led by major venture capital firms and supported by tech giants like Microsoft and NVIDIA, underscores the growing investor confidence in embodied AI for mobility solutions and highlights Wayve's ambition to lead the global autonomy market. The funding aims to transition Wayve from research leadership to scaled commercial application, with strategic partnerships with automotive manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Stellantis. Wayve's end-to-end AI platform is designed for L2+ to L4 autonomous driving, capable of operating across diverse vehicle brands and markets without relying on high-definition maps. The company's approach emphasizes a unified AI system that can be integrated directly by automakers, offering them tools to customize driving models for their specific needs. This model contrasts with city-by-city robotaxi deployments, aiming for broader scalability through a trusted, continuously improving platform powered by onboard vehicle compute and embedded sensors. This funding round places Wayve in a unique position within the European AI landscape, dwarfing recent investments in other AI application areas. For instance, startups like Overmind, Toyo, happyhotel, and Equixly, which focus on AI agents, security, and revenue management, have raised significantly smaller sums. Wayve's substantial capital raise suggests a strong belief in the future of its AI-powered autonomous driving system for widespread commercial adoption in both ride-hailing services and consumer vehicles, beginning with commercial trials with Uber in 2026 and passenger vehicles from 2027.
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