Uber, Wayve, and Nissan are bringing robotaxis to Tokyo

The three-way MOU marks Uber’s first autonomous vehicle partnership in Japan, and adds Tokyo to a global rollout already targeting ten cities.

Tokyo’s streets are, by common consensus, among the most demanding driving environments on Earth. Dense junctions, narrow lanes, complex signage, and a culture of precision that tolerates neither delay nor error make the Japanese capital a city where even experienced human drivers proceed with caution. It is precisely this difficulty that makes it the right place to prove something.

Uber, British autonomous driving startup Wayve, and Nissan announced on Thursday that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and pilot a robotaxi service in Tokyo, with the first deployments planned for late 2026, pending regulatory approval.

The partnership marks Uber’s first autonomous vehicle collaboration in Japan.

Under the arrangement, Nissan LEAF electric vehicles will be fitted with Wayve’s AI Driver, an end-to-end ...