Nissan, Uber near deal to deploy autonomous ride-hailing vehicles

Nissan Motor is close to finalising an agreement with Uber Technologies to deploy autonomous vehicles for ride-hailing services globally, reported Nikkei Asia.

The Japanese automaker is partnering with UK-based startup Wayve Technologies – backed by Uber – to develop self-driving systems for future ride-hailing fleets.

The companies are advancing joint technology development with plans to launch production vehicles in fiscal 2027 equipped with hands-free autonomous driving capability designed for urban environments.

Wayve focuses on end-to-end artificial intelligence technology, where AI manages perception and decision-making by analysing real-time footage from onboard cameras.

This system is designed to enable automated driving even in complex road situations.

The startup recently secured $1.2bn in Series D funding at a post-money valuation of $8.6bn.

Including additional “milestone-based capital” commitments from Uber, Wayve said the total funding raised in the round would reach $1.5bn.

Uber plans to roll out autonomous ride-hailing services in Japan and other markets within the next few years using the self-driving technology developed by Nissan and Wayve.

Nissan’s current systems correspond to Level 2 autonomous driving, which still requires drivers to take control in certain situations.

The automaker is working toward achieving fully driverless, or Level 5, capability.

Nissan, which has faced weak sales in several major markets in recent years, sees the collaboration with Uber as part of efforts to strengthen its brand position.

The company reported global sales of 272,782 vehicles in January 2026, including Nissan and Infiniti models.

Sales in Japan declined 11% to 35,287 units, while overseas sales rose 2.8% to 217,316 units.