UK AI Startup Wayve Makes Japan Debut After Nissan Partnership

Wayve Technologies Ltd., a UK-based artificial intelligence startup backed by SoftBank Group Corp., has tapped Japan as the next location in its global expansion.

On Tuesday, it announced the opening of a test center in Yokohama, making Japan its fourth market after the UK, US and Germany as it looks to work with major carmakers in developing AI-driven, autonomous driving technology.

Alex Kendall

Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg

“The platform we provide can give a safer and more reliable driving performance than any single manufacturer can build on their own,” Chief Executive Officer Alex Kendall said during an interview.

Autonomous driving, or the pursuit ...