Uber Teams with Nissan, Wayve for 2026 Tokyo Robotaxi Launch and U.S. Zoox Rollout
Uber shares are down 10% year-to-date and 28.3% from their 52-week high as the company partners with Nissan and Wayve to launch Leaf EV robotaxis in Tokyo by late 2026 with safety drivers. It will deploy Zoox driverless robotaxis in Las Vegas in summer 2026 and Los Angeles in mid-2027.
1. Tokyo Robotaxi Partnership with Nissan and Wayve
Uber has partnered with Nissan and autonomous startup Wayve to launch robotaxi trials in Tokyo by late 2026. Nissan will supply electric Leaf vehicles outfitted with Wayve’s self-driving technology and trained safety drivers will oversee initial operations via the Uber app.
2. U.S. Zoox Deployment Plans
Under a separate agreement, Uber will integrate Zoox’s purpose-built, driverless robotaxis into its U.S. network. The first vehicles, featuring no steering wheel or pedals, will begin service in Las Vegas in summer 2026 and extend to Los Angeles by mid-2027.
3. Platform Strategy and Efficiency
Uber’s platform model leverages partnerships instead of owning AV fleets, reducing R&D costs and accelerating global scale. Early tests show these AVs delivering about 30% more trips per vehicle per day compared to standalone autonomous fleets.