UK-based self-driving car startup Wayve heads to Japan for more driving data
- Reference: 1745320778
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/04/22/wayve_heads_to_japan_for/
- Source link:
[1]Confirmation comes weeks after Japanese car-maker Nissan [2]revealed plans to launch its next-generation ProPILOT technology from FY2027, with Lidar and Wayve AI Driver software.
Self-driving car maker Musk's DOGE rocks up at self-driving car watchdog, cuts staff [3]READ MORE
Meanwhile, over in the US
The chairman of Nissan Americas, Christian Meunier, said last week he is worried that Trump's tariffs may drive prices of vehicles in the US higher.
"Cars are becoming completely unaffordable," Meunier reportedly [4]told newswire Reuters. "It's not fair for the middle class or the lower class, the people that can't afford a car, to force them to buy a used car ... I think it's the responsibility of the government as well to keep it possible for people to buy a new car."
Earlier this month, Tesla tycoon Elon Musk – President Trump's éminence grease – [5]broke ranks by publicly berating one of the White House's trade advisers, Peter Navarro, who backed the tariffs, and pushed for a "zero tariff situation" between America and Europe.
Despite the administration pressing [6]pause on the planned "reciprocal" tariffs on most countries, sectoral tariffs, such as the 25 percent duty on imported vehicles and certain automotive parts, [7]remain in place.
Last year, Wayve [8]raised $1.05 billion in a Series C funding round led by Softbank, with participation from Nvidia, Microsoft, and Uber. Wayve's tech centers on using AI training to build its foundation models.
Unlike services such as the fully autonomous Waymo, which rely on highly detailed maps and expensive sensors to deliver a driverless experience, Wayve is currently a driver assistance tech that relies on AI training during usage. According to Wayve, its AI Driver Assist system "goes beyond the standard L2+ systems" and paves "the way to unlock L3 and beyond."
Level 2 autonomous driving means the vehicle can steer, brake, and accelerate autonomously. However, the driver must be ready to take control at any time. Level 3 means the car is fully autonomous, and the driver can take their eyes off the road. However, the vehicle might request that the driver takes back control if the situation demands it.
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Wayve's approach means that it's AI service [10]rapidly reached parity in the US with UK performance levels after a few hundred hours of US-specific training. Wayve has piloted in Germany to collect more training data. It claims the tech can be rapidly adapted to new vehicle platforms, which is useful, considering the corporation's goal is to have automakers embed its software into their vehicles without requiring a potentially costly suite of sensors.
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"By incorporating training data from Japan’s complex road environments, Wayve will strengthen the generalization of its foundation model and enhance adaptability across global markets. The new Yokohama center will support testing and development in Tokyo and surrounding regions, deepen collaboration with Japanese OEMs, and accelerate product readiness," a spokesperson said.
Autonomous vehicles have taken considerably longer to reach the market than enthusiasts [13]hoped . Despite the protestations of Elon Musk, Tesla's Autopilot vehicles require drivers to remain attentive. In 2024, Musk [14]forecast that the fully autonomous 'Cybercab' would enter production in 2026.
[15]UK law gives green light to self-driving cars from 2026
[16]Microsoft-backed robovans to deliver grub in London
[17]Cruise shutdown blastzone increases – Microsoft takes $800M charge
[18]Cruise robotaxis parked forever, as GM decides it can't compete and wants to cut costs
The road to autonomous driving has not been smooth. US automaker General Motors [19]pulled the plug on its Cruise robotaxi operation in 2024, and earlier this year, Uber's CEO [20]warned that high costs would make commercializing autonomous taxis difficult in the immediate term. Uber was, however, part of an extension of the Series C funding round for Wayve.
Shiro Yamanaka, General Manager, Uber Japan, welcomed Wayve's announcement today: "It is our firm belief that advancements in autonomous driving technology will substantially contribute to resolving Japan's transportation challenges and will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of mobility." ®
Get our [21]Tech Resources
[1] https://wayve.ai/press/wayve-japan-launch/
[2] https://wayve.ai/press/nissan-announcement/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/11/doge_nhtsa_audit/
[4] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/nissan-us-chief-says-tariffs-will-hammer-lower-income-car-shoppers-2025-04-16/
[5] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/06/musk-zero-tariffs-us-europe/82962344007/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/09/eu_tariffs/
[7] https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a64542261/tariffs-could-reduce-reduce-annual-car-sales/
[8] https://wayve.ai/press/series-c/
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aAe9MGpvd-6awguK-FYIZwAAAkM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[10] https://wayve.ai/press/wayve-us-generalization-results/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aAe9MGpvd-6awguK-FYIZwAAAkM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aAe9MGpvd-6awguK-FYIZwAAAkM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2010/10/10/google_self_driving_cars/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/11/tesla_robotaxi_robovan_arrive/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/22/uk_law_gives_green_light/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2022/05/19/selfdriving_microsoft_wayve/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/12/microsoft_to_take_an_800m/
[18] https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/11/cruise_gm_shutdown/
[19] https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/11/cruise_gm_shutdown/
[20] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/06/uber_fy_2024_av_update/
[21] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Why Japan?
Well, obviously not the US these days.
Re: Why Japan?
Fewer rule breakers on the road.
If I could take a car to the motorway and tell it to go to Tebay, Tiverton or Towcester and wake me up when we're nearly there, even if I had to do the non-motorway driving, I might be interested but I do not expect to see that, ever.
I think that's the realistic first step, and it would be a significant improvement on human driving, even for the bits at each end.
Unlike you - I do see it happening, you might get called in for a diversion as well, but there is no reason that motorway driving shouldn't be automated relatively simply.
It would need to be automated to a degree of safety that the driver is never required to take over at short notice because the driver will be doing something distracting of very probably asleep.
The usual condition that the system may require the human driver to take over in an emergency is a clear indication that at present, at least, the human driver is regarded as the better driver in a difficult situation.
"Wake up, you have reached your destination, The eBay offices London".
Sounded more oop North than London ;)
I do not expect to see that, ever
It was called [1]Motorail .
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorail_(British_Rail)
However, the vehicle might request that the driver takes back control if the situation demands it.
So they're admitting self-driving doesn't work in all situations.
Until the driver "taking back control" is eliminated, self-driving is a non-starter.
@ChrisElvidge
I do not understand your downvotes.
My only use case for self driving requires that driver must not have to take over.
.. that use case* is that for a "self driving" car to be of any use it should be able to drive me back from the pub after I have had enough pints to be over the limit.
* that use case would allow me to visit some good pubs that are beyond walking distance** (yes, I can visit them currently but without having a beer - which defeats the point really)
** do not bother to say public transport - I'm in an area where that is very dismal (rural tends to mean dismal public transport infrastructure in much of the UK)
For a long journey it is asking too much of the driver not to have to be in control but still maintain full alertness. Unless distracting themselves with something else the likeliest outcome is that most drivers would fall asleep on a long journey. That's why I suggested above that "wake me up when we're nearly there" would be a requirement.
Why Japan?
Presumably because they drive on the left hand side too.