Uber Backs $1.5B Wayve Round for $8.6B Robotaxi Rollout in 10+ Markets
British autonomous driving startup Wayve raised $1.5 billion at an $8.6 billion valuation in a round led by Eclipse, Balderton and SoftBank Vision Fund 2 with participation from Microsoft, Nvidia, automakers and Uber. Uber financed its share to integrate Wayve-powered robotaxis into its app across 10+ markets starting in London this year.
1. Funding Round Details
Wayve secured $1.5 billion in a Series D financing at an $8.6 billion valuation. The round was led by Eclipse, Balderton and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, with contributions from Microsoft, Nvidia, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Baillie Gifford, British Business Bank, Icehouse Ventures, Schroders Capital, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Stellantis alongside Uber.
2. Uber's Strategic Investment
Uber participated in the round to fund integration of Wayve’s AI-driven autonomy into its ride-hailing platform. The strategic backing underscores Uber’s ambition to accelerate its autonomous capabilities and diversify beyond human-driven trips.
3. Deployment and Market Plans
Wayve-powered robotaxis will be available in over 10 global markets via the Uber app. The first deployments are slated for London later this year, positioning Uber to capture early demand for autonomous ride-hailing.
4. Competitive and Financial Implications
Integration of autonomous fleets could reduce Uber’s long-term driver costs and improve margins. This move intensifies competition with Alphabet’s Waymo and other AV providers in urban mobility.