Wayve Secures $1.5 Billion at $8.6 Billion Valuation with Stellantis Investment
Wayve raised $1.5 billion in a funding round led by Eclipse, Balderton and SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2, boosting its valuation to $8.6 billion with participation from Microsoft, Nvidia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Stellantis. The startup will deploy its autonomous driving software via Uber’s app in over 10 markets, starting in London later this year.
1. Funding Round Details
Wayve closed a $1.5 billion financing round led by Eclipse, Balderton and SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2, raising its valuation to $8.6 billion. The round attracted capital from global investors including Microsoft, Nvidia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Stellantis, marking one of the largest raises in autonomous driving software.
2. Partnerships and Rollout Plans
The company plans to integrate its AI-driven autonomous driving software into Uber’s ride-hail app, targeting rollout in more than 10 markets, with London as the inaugural city launch later this year. This asset-light model focuses on licensing software to mobility partners rather than operating a proprietary robotaxi fleet.
3. Implications for Stellantis
Stellantis’s participation positions the automaker to leverage Wayve’s advanced driver-assistance technology across its future vehicle lineup. By investing in software over hardware deployment, Stellantis aims to accelerate its autonomous service offerings and reduce the capital intensity of operating self-driving fleets.