Nissan said on Wednesday it will begin using self-driving software developed by UK startup Wayve in its vehicles starting in 2027, aiming to strengthen its advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) known as ProPilot.
The partnership marks a significant milestone for Wayve, which has raised over $1.3 billion from backers including Nvidia, Microsoft, SoftBank Group, and Uber. Under the agreement, Nissan will integrate Wayve’s software along with sensors, including lidar from an undisclosed supplier, into future versions of ProPilot.
See also: Next-Gen Nissan LEAF Spotted at Tesla Supercharger Ahead of Official Launch
The upgraded system is expected to qualify as Level 2 automation under the Society of Automotive Engineers classification, meaning it can handle multiple driving tasks but requires continuous driver supervision. Nissan has not disclosed which vehicle models will feature the new system.
“Leveraging Nissan’s technology and Wayve’s AI, we are confident it will allow future Nissan vehicles to closely replicate the judgment and actions of a careful and competent human driver in complex driving scenarios,” Nissan spokesperson Shiro Nagai said.
See also: Nissan Targets Commercial Rollout of Solid-State Batteries by 2028
Founded in 2017, Wayve is developing an end-to-end, self-learning autonomous driving system. Unlike traditional rule-based approaches, Wayve’s platform is designed to learn from real-world driving data, making it adaptable to a range of environments and vehicle types without the need for high-definition maps or specific hardware configurations.
The system’s compatibility with existing sensors like cameras and radar is viewed as a cost-effective advantage. While Wayve’s test fleet uses Nvidia’s Orin chips, CEO Alex Kendall has previously stated that the software can run on a variety of hardware platforms already used by automakers.
See also: Nissan Withdraws Investment in Renault’s Ampere, Companies Amend Alliance Agreement
Nissan described the future ADAS setup as a system that will “set a new standard for autonomous driving with advanced collision avoidance capability.” The collaboration with Wayve is part of Nissan’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence in next-generation vehicles.