British self-driving software start-up Wayve has made its first move into Asia, setting up a new testing and development hub in Yokohama, Japan.
The company says the new center will be used to accelerate the development of its AI-powered driving software in collaboration with leading automakers.
The announcement comes just days after Wayve confirmed a partnership that will see its tech used in Nissan production cars starting in fiscal year 2027.
London-based Wayve has gained significant momentum in the self-driving arena with its concept of Embodied AI – the idea that artificial intelligence can be integrated into vehicles to understand and learn from human behavior in real-world environments, transforming how they react and respond.
By learning from experience and driving data – rather than the coding, HD maps and sensors used by self-driving taxi companies, for example – Wayve’s system can be rapidly adapted to different markets and vehicle types. This, it claims, will result in swifter scaling with reduced cost.
The move into Japan will enhance Wayve’s AI further. The company said that by using data from the country’s complex road environments, it will strengthen the generalization of its foundation model and improve adaptability globally.
Specifically, the new Yokohama facility will be used to support testing in Tokyo and the surrounding regions.
The move marks the latest step in a dramatic expansion program that has seen Wayve significantly increase its global footprint following a huge series C investment round of $1.05 billion in March 2024, with big name backers including Japan’s own SoftBank, Nvidia and Microsoft.
In October, Wayve confirmed the launch of a testing program in San Francisco and the opening of a new office in Sunnyvale, California, as it sought to forge new partnerships with local Silicon Valley companies.
This was followed in March with the establishment of a testing hub and development center near Stuttgart, Germany – its first operation in mainland Europe.
Alex Kendall, co-founder and CEO of Wayve, hailed the latest move, saying: “Japan is a global leader in automotive innovation, defined by its legacy of trust and engineering excellence. By establishing our presence here, we’re embedding those principles into the development of our embodied AI.
“We’re here to collaborate with local partners to deliver advanced AI software that strengthens the global competitiveness of Japanese automakers and accelerates the rollout of safer and smarter mobility technology.”
Uber Japan’s general manager Shiro Yamanaka added: “Uber extends a warm welcome to Wayve upon the commencement of their testing and development operations in Japan, as a valued global partner.” In August last year, Uber and Wayve announced they would work together on integrating the latter’s tech onto cars available on its fleet – although we are still waiting to see the first fruits of the partnership.This article first appeared in AI Business’ sister publication IoT World Today.