Uber, Stellantis, and autonomous driving startup Wayve have announced a new partnership aimed at bringing Level 4 autonomous robotaxis to cities around the world. The collaboration combines Stellantis’ vehicle manufacturing expertise, Wayve’s AI-powered self-driving technology, and Uber’s global ride-hailing platform to create a scalable driverless mobility service.
The three companies have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the development and deployment of fully autonomous vehicles across Europe, North America, and other global markets.
Combining Vehicles, AI and Mobility Services
The partnership brings together three key components required to commercialize autonomous transportation at scale.
Stellantis will provide vehicles built on its L4-Ready Platforms, which are engineered specifically for driverless operations. These platforms feature integrated sensor systems, built-in redundancy, and safety-focused architecture designed to meet the demands of high-utilization autonomous fleets.
Wayve will contribute its AI driving software, which enables vehicles to navigate complex urban environments without relying on detailed pre-mapped routes. Instead, the company’s system uses an end-to-end AI approach powered by six cameras, radar sensors, and machine learning to interpret and respond to real-world driving conditions.
Uber will integrate the autonomous vehicles into its global mobility network, allowing customers to book robotaxi rides directly through the Uber app.
Wayve’s Mapless AI Approach
Unlike many autonomous driving systems that depend heavily on high-definition maps, Wayve’s technology is designed to learn and adapt from real-world driving experiences.
The company describes its software as a “mapless” AI system capable of understanding road environments and making driving decisions by observing and learning from human behavior. This approach allows the technology to adapt to new cities and driving conditions without requiring extensive city-by-city mapping or software re-engineering.
Wayve has been testing autonomous vehicles on public roads in London since 2018, although all testing has been conducted with safety drivers behind the wheel. The initial deployments resulting from the partnership are also expected to include safety operators during early rollout phases.
Building on Existing Autonomous Mobility Partnerships
The announcement expands existing relationships between the companies. Stellantis and Wayve previously entered an agreement to integrate advanced AI-assisted driving technology into consumer vehicles, while Uber and Wayve have already partnered to launch autonomous ride services in London, Tokyo, and ten additional cities beginning this year.
Uber and Stellantis also announced a separate autonomous vehicle collaboration last year involving AI computing leader Nvidia.
The latest agreement represents another step in Uber’s growing robotaxi strategy as the company continues partnering with autonomous technology providers rather than developing its own self-driving platform.
Preparing for High-Utilization Autonomous Fleets
Robotaxis are expected to operate significantly more hours per day than conventional taxis because they eliminate driver shift limitations. While vehicles will still require charging and maintenance downtime, increasingly fast EV charging infrastructure is expected to minimize interruptions.
That makes durability, reliability, and operational efficiency critical factors for future autonomous fleets. Stellantis says its L4-Ready Platforms are being designed with those requirements in mind, supporting the long operating hours and demanding usage patterns associated with commercial robotaxi services.
A Step Toward Commercial Robotaxi Services at Scale
The companies plan to collaborate on vehicle integration, testing, validation, and deployment as they work toward launching commercial autonomous ride-hailing services in multiple global markets.
While the agreement does not yet include specific launch dates or vehicle models, it establishes a framework for future agreements covering technology development, licensing, production, and vehicle procurement.
As competition in the autonomous mobility sector intensifies, the partnership highlights an increasingly common industry approach: combining vehicle manufacturers, AI technology providers, and mobility platforms to accelerate the rollout of safe, scalable robotaxi services.
If successful, the collaboration could help bring autonomous ride-hailing to millions of riders worldwide and mark another major milestone in the commercialization of self-driving transportation.
