On Friday, Wayve, Stellantis and Nvidia announced a partnership with the French government to deploy autonomous vehicles in France and across the European Union. The companies revealed the plan at the Assises du Véhicule Autonome conference in Paris, aiming to speed up the rollout of self-driving technology across the region.
Key takeaways
- Wayve, Stellantis and Nvidia are partnering with France to deploy self-driving cars.
- Stellantis will provide L4-ready platforms while Wayve supplies its AI Driver software running on Nvidia Hyperion.
- Uber is also involved to bring its ride-hailing network to the initiative.
- France plans to change its rules to speed up deployments while keeping strict safety standards.
What is the plan for autonomous vehicles in France?
The new collaboration brings together key technology and automotive players to build a foundation for automated driving. According to The Next Web, Stellantis will supply L4-ready platforms for the project. London-based Wayve will provide its AI Driver software, which runs on Nvidia’s Hyperion computer and sensor system.
A French trade paper reported that Uber is also part of the plan and will bring its ride-hailing network. The companies did not share a launch date, fleet size or specific cities for the rollout. Local transport partners will first talk to unions and city authorities before any vehicles hit the streets.
Regulatory hurdles and the race for robotaxis in Europe
France’s transport minister, Philippe Tabarot, stated that the country will change its rules to speed up self-driving cars while maintaining strict safety and data sovereignty requirements. At the EU level, the only approval route for fully self-driving cars is capped at 1,500 vehicles a year.
Europe has fallen behind the US and China when it comes to deploying robotaxis. Chinese firms are currently moving the fastest. Pony.ai operates Europe’s first fully driverless rides in Zagreb, and Pony.ai and Uber plan to put more than 2,000 robotaxis on European roads.
What it means for the companies involved
This initiative gives the participating tech and automotive giants a structured path into the European market, where regulatory limits have slowed growth. Wayve and Stellantis already have an ongoing relationship, having recently demonstrated a Fiat 500e and a Maserati Grecale driving hands-free with Wayve software in Turin, with a North American launch planned for 2028.
Frequently asked questions
Wayve, Stellantis and Nvidia announced a collaboration with the French government to deploy self-driving vehicles.
Stellantis supplies L4-ready platforms, while London-based Wayve supplies its AI Driver software.
Yes, Uber is part of the plan to bring its ride-hailing network, according to a report by Journal de l’Automobile citing Stellantis.
The companies did not give a launch date, fleet size, or the specific cities where the cars will run.
At the EU level, the only approval route for fully self-driving cars is capped at 1,500 vehicles a year.
Based on reporting by The Next Web. Read the original article
