Tokyo: Japanese automaker Nissan has joined hands with ride hailing company Uber and British autonomous driving startup Wayve to launch a robotaxi service in Japan. The companies announced plans to begin testing the driverless taxi service in Tokyo by late 2026.
The partnership aims to introduce self driving vehicles that passengers can book through the Uber app. The project will use Nissan’s electric vehicles equipped with Wayve’s artificial intelligence based autonomous driving technology.
During the first phase of the project, the vehicles will still have trained safety drivers inside them while the companies test the technology in real traffic conditions. The service will also operate through licensed taxi operators in Japan and will follow the country’s safety and transport regulations.
Wayve’s technology uses artificial intelligence that learns from real driving data. This system is designed to help vehicles adapt to different roads and environments without relying heavily on detailed maps.
The collaboration builds on earlier cooperation between Uber and Wayve to develop autonomous ride services around the world. Nissan has also been testing the technology as part of its efforts to bring advanced driver assistance and autonomous mobility to the market.
If the Tokyo pilot program proves successful, the companies may expand the robotaxi service to other cities and countries in the future.
The agreement comes at a time when several technology firms and automakers are racing to develop autonomous taxis. Companies around the world are investing heavily in self driving technology as they look for new ways to transform urban transport.