Mercedes-Benz to put British start-up Wayve's self-driving AI into its cars within two years in landmark deal

From the Newshound archive · first published 22 September 2026 · last updated 23 September 2026.

London-headquartered AI firm Wayve has signed a production agreement with Mercedes-Benz to integrate its AI Driver technology into future models, making the German carmaker the first premium manufacturer to adopt Wayve's system. The deal is Wayve's third major production agreement in under nine months, following partnerships with Nissan and Stellantis, and comes after Mercedes invested in Wayve's $1.2bn funding round that valued the firm at $8.6bn.

Unlike rival systems, Wayve's AI learns from driving data rather than relying on high-definition city maps, letting it work across multiple markets with the same underlying software.

Mercedes technology chief Jörg Burzer said the deal marks 'the world's first integration of the Wayve AI Driver in the premium segment', with testing already completed in Stuttgart, London and San Francisco.

Mercedes reportedly views the deal as a direct bid to close the AI gap with Chinese rivals, who have raced ahead on autonomous driving technology.