Sunita Somvanshi
Nvidia has signed a letter of intent to evaluate a $500 million strategic investment in Wayve, a UK-based autonomous driving technology company. This potential deal would build on Nvidia’s existing partnership with Wayve and would be part of the startup’s upcoming funding round.
This move follows Wayve’s successful $1.05 billion Series C funding round that closed in May 2024, in which Nvidia already participated. The investment would be part of Nvidia’s broader £2 billion ($2.7 billion) commitment to the UK’s artificial intelligence startup ecosystem.
“Continued support from a global leader like Nvidia underscores confidence in our AV2.0 approach to building embodied AI,” said Alex Kendall, Co-founder and CEO of Wayve.
Wayve’s approach differs from traditional self-driving systems. Instead of relying on detailed digital maps and rigid programming, Wayve uses machine learning with camera sensors mounted on vehicles to learn from traffic patterns and driver behavior. This technology enables cars to navigate without pre-mapped routes, potentially making autonomous driving more adaptable and scalable.
The two companies have collaborated since 2018, with each generation of Wayve’s technology using Nvidia’s computing platforms. The upcoming Wayve Gen 3 platform will be built on Nvidia’s DRIVE AGX Thor, which is powered by Nvidia’s Blackwell GPU architecture and runs the company’s safety-certified DriveOS.
This new platform aims to push autonomous driving capabilities toward “eyes-off” (Level 3) and “driverless” (Level 4) capabilities across both urban streets and highways. Level 3 allows drivers to take their attention off the road in certain conditions, while Level 4 means the vehicle can drive itself without human intervention in specific areas.
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Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang appears enthusiastic about Wayve’s potential. After taking a ride in a Wayve-equipped vehicle through busy London streets, Huang reportedly called Wayve “the next trillion-dollar company” and personally handed Kendall Nvidia’s Thor developer kit during the demonstration.
Founded in 2017, Wayve has attracted significant investment beyond Nvidia. SoftBank Group led their Series C round, and ride-hailing platform Uber made a separate investment in 2024. Uber and Wayve have also agreed to launch public-road trials of fully autonomous vehicles in London once they receive all necessary permits and approvals.
The timing of this potential investment aligns with the recent technology pact between Britain and the United States aimed at boosting ties in artificial intelligence. While currently operating in Britain and the U.S., Wayve has been expanding its testing and development to Germany and Japan.
A Wayve spokesperson confirmed that the $500 million tentative commitment would be part of Nvidia’s larger UK AI startup investment pledge. While the closing date for Wayve’s Series D funding round hasn’t been announced, Kendall has stated the company is “working quickly towards it.”
