Nvidia is placing a massive bet on the future of autonomous driving, this time by doubling down on Wayve, a UK-based AI startup already shaking up the robotaxi scene. As part of a bold $500 million move, Nvidia is deepening its stake in what CEO Jensen Huang dubbed “the next trillion-dollar company.”
Nvidia robotaxi investment targets Tesla’s turf
Fresh off its colossal $100 billion push into OpenAI and generative AI, Nvidia now has Tesla’s Robotaxi market in its crosshairs. Its latest play? A half-billion-dollar investment in Wayve, whose AI software already powers Nissan’s new ProPilot system, a rival that, according to Nissan, already outperforms Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD).
Huang personally tested the tech in a Wayve-powered vehicle on the streets of London. After the ride, he reportedly told the team, “Next trillion-dollar company, you guys.”
That endorsement isn’t just hype. Wayve’s approach mirrors Tesla’s in some ways, but with a few major differences.
Beelink EQR7 mini-PC launches globally with Ryzen 7000-series APUs, 32 GB RAM, low-noise cooling, and storage up to 8 TB.
Wayve uses vision-based AI without HD maps
Wayve’s software takes a camera-first, neural network-driven approach to driving similar to Tesla’s FSD. But unlike most autonomous systems, it doesn’t rely on HD maps or rule-based algorithms. Instead, it uses end-to-end AI that learns directly from video input, adapting to road conditions through real-world experience.
Nvidia’s investment isn’t just financial. Wayve’s system runs on Nvidia’s custom Drive Thor hardware, designed specifically for autonomous vehicles. This deep integration gives Wayve the power to process high volumes of visual data and react in milliseconds.
Nissan claims it’s smarter than Tesla’s FSD
Wayve’s biggest win so far? Nissan’s ProPilot robotaxi system. The company recently unveiled the feature on a fleet of Ariya EVs in Tokyo, demonstrating Level 4 autonomy on public roads.
According to Nissan, the system powered by Wayve’s AI is already “smarter than Tesla’s FSD.” The AI behaves like a skilled human driver, anticipating events, adapting to dynamic environments, and learning from real-world driving scenes.
Why Wayve stands out in the robotaxi race:
- Uses vision-only neural networks, no HD maps
- Learns from environmental flow, not static objects
- Responds instantly to changes, even in complex traffic
- Mimics human cognition for better driving intuition
- Integrated with Nvidia Drive Thor for fast, on-device processing
Nvidia Robotaxi rollout planned for 2027
Nissan plans to begin deploying vehicles with Wayve’s AI Driver and Nvidia hardware starting in 2027. Regulatory approval is still in the works, but the tech is already showing real-world promise.
Wayve’s rise and Nvidia’s massive backing signal a serious challenge to Tesla’s dominance in the self-driving space. This isn’t just another startup. It’s a company with live deployments, big-name partners, and now, $1.5 billion in funding from the likes of Nvidia, Uber, and SoftBank.
The race to robotaxis is accelerating. And Nvidia just hit the gas.
