British autonomous driving start-up Wayve is in early talks with Microsoft and SoftBank over a potential $2 billion funding round, in a deal that would value the London-based AI firm at $8 billion, according to The Financial Times.
Founded in 2017 by Cambridge PhD students Alex Kendall and Amar Shah, Wayve has developed a breakthrough approach to self-driving cars, using machine learning and computer vision to teach vehicles how to drive through real-world video and data—rather than relying on pre-programmed rules.
The fast-growing company is already backed by an elite roster of investors, including SoftBank, Nvidia, Microsoft, Ilya Sutskever (OpenAI co-founder), and Yann LeCun (Meta’s Chief AI Scientist). Last year, SoftBank led a $1 billion round, with Nvidia adding another $500 million in September during CEO Jensen Huang’s high-profile visit to London with President Trump.
Wayve’s AI-powered software is designed to make any car hands-free. It is currently being trialled with retail and logistics partners including Asda, Ocado, and Uber, with UK road tests set for next spring. The company has also signed a landmark deal with Nissan, aiming to integrate its technology into Nissan vehicles by 2027.
From humble beginnings in a garage, Wayve now employs over 800 staff across six countries, making it one of the UK’s most internationally ambitious AI ventures. The planned investment—if finalised—would signal continued confidence in Britain’s AI innovation sector, at a time of intensifying global competition in autonomous driving and artificial general intelligence.
A key benefit of Wayve’s approach is its ability to handle unpredictable scenarios—such as pedestrians stepping into the road or sudden swerves from other vehicles—making it a strong contender in the race to scale safe and adaptable self-driving solutions.
Industry experts hope the rollout of driverless cars will dramatically reduce road accidents by removing human error, drunk driving, and road rage from the equation.
Wayve declined to comment on the fundraising talks.
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Wayve wheels in Microsoft and Softbank for $2bn cash injection