Globally renowned ride-hailing platform Uber has announced a partnership with UK-based artificial intelligence company Wayve to jointly develop vehicles with Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities. This collaboration will enable Uber's network to deploy these self-driving cars in multiple markets worldwide in the future, although specific automobile manufacturers participating in the project have not yet been disclosed.
Image Source Note: The image was generated by AI, provided by the image licensing service Midjourney
Level 4 autonomous driving technology means that vehicles can completely control driving in specific environments or locations without human intervention. Uber's strategic investment in Wayve will complement the $1.05 billion Series C funding round announced by Wayve in May, led by Japan's SoftBank.
Wayve's AI solutions will be integrated into Uber's autonomous fleet to accelerate collaborations with global automakers. Wayve's technology features its Embodied AI, which allows self-driving cars to operate without predefined maps, beyond geo-fenced areas. Wayve has already launched Europe's largest urban grocery autonomous delivery pilot project in West London.
Alex Kendall, co-founder and CEO of Wayve, stated that the company is building a "universal" driving AI capable of supporting all levels of driving automation for any type of vehicle anywhere in the world. He expressed excitement about the partnership with Uber and looks forward to significantly enhancing the learning capabilities of the AI fleet through this collaboration, ensuring the safety of autonomous driving technology, and preparing for global deployment.
For Uber, this partnership is another significant step in the field of autonomous driving technology. In recent months, Uber has significantly increased its focus on autonomous driving. Early August, Uber confirmed its partnership with Cruise, planning to launch autonomous taxi services by 2025. Additionally, Uber offers Waymo autonomous taxi services in Phoenix and collaborates with Motional, as well as promoting automated food delivery services through Uber Eats.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi believes that Wayve's advanced Embodied AI approach holds great potential for realizing a modern world of car-sharing, electric, and autonomous vehicles. He looks forward to the partnership with Wayve and hopes to work together with automakers to continue building Uber as the best autonomous vehicle network.
Key Points:
🚗 **Collaborative Development**: Uber and Wayve are collaborating to develop Level 4 autonomous vehicles.
💼 **Strategic Investment**: Uber's strategic investment in Wayve accelerates technology collaboration and deployment.
🌐 **Global Deployment**: The goal of the partnership is to use autonomous vehicles in Uber's network across multiple global markets.
🔧 **Technology Features**: Wayve's Embodied AI technology allows vehicles to drive autonomously without maps.