Nvidia Joins $1.05B Wayve Funding, Advances Automated Driving

Shivani Kumaresan

May 07, 2024

U.S. chipmaker Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) has joined as a new investor in a $1.05 billion funding round for Wayve Technologies Ltd., a U.K. startup focused on advancing autonomous-driving technology.

The investment round, led by SoftBank Group Corp. (OTC:SFTBY) and including contributions from existing investor Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT), highlights the ongoing interest in AI and bolsters the self-driving car sector, which has faced regulatory challenges.

Wayve aims to integrate its embodied intelligence technology into vehicles of various carmakers and fleet operators rather than owning or operating the cars directly, according to a report from Bloomberg.

Embodied AI integrates advanced AI into vehicles and robots to transform how machines interact with, comprehend, and learn from human behavior in real-world environments, helping in greater usability and safety in autonomous driving systems.

CEO Alex Kendall plans to initially focus on driver-assist technology before advancing to fully autonomous vehicles, the report mentioned.

Talking about the company’s approach, Kendall emphasized Wayve’s goal of creating technology that learns driving rules independently, distinguishing it from competitors like Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Waymo.

Despite enthusiasm for autonomous driving, the sector has faced challenges. General Motors Co.’s (NYSE:GM) self-driving unit, Cruise, encountered setbacks, including an accident in San Francisco.

Similarly, Argo AI and Uber Technologies Inc.(NYSE:UBER) faced obstacles in their autonomous driving endeavors.

Wayve plans to utilize the raised funds to expand its team and computing capabilities. With previous investments totaling over $258 million, the startup aims to capitalize on commercial deals to achieve profitability.

According to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the funding signifies the U.K.’s prowess in AI, which the report mentioned.

The company’s growth strategy includes the establishment of a research center in Vancouver, supplementing its existing locations in London and Mountain View, California.

Read Next: Microsoft Takes On Google And OpenAI With New AI Model: Report

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo via Shutterstock

Recommended

The Smart Money Copper Trade - Ad

Trump Signs Law to Launch Dollar 2.0 - Ad

Legally "Skim" $6,361 Into Your Account? - Ad

NEW YORK (AP) — It arrived in 2024. And it never left. and massively popular, Grammy-nominated “APT.” topped Apple Music’s global song chart in 2025 as the giant music streamer Tuesday and provided listeners with data on their own most listened-to tunes.

Donations for Hong Kong fire victims reach $115 million, while crackdown on dissent hardens

HONG KONG (AP) — Donations for victims of a Hong Kong fire that killed at least 146 people and left thousands homeless reached 900 million Hong Kong dollars (US$115 million), authorities said Monday, in a massive outpouring of sympathy and support. But as questions grew over who to blame for the deadly blaze, the government appeared to be moving swiftly to stifle criticism.

Copper Is Tight, Silver Is Rising - And This Early Nevada Play Hits the Timing Perfectly

Copper Is Tight, Silver Is Rising - And This Early Nevada Play Hits the Timing Perfectly - Ad

AI, electrification, battery storage, and data centers are pushing copper and silver demand sharply higher, even as supply stays tight. This region in Nevada offers rare multi-metal potential, and a new company has secured land in a district the surging district. It's one of the cleanest timing setups in the sector right now.

Jim Cramer's '10 Stocks To Own For The Future' In 2000 Cost This Redditor A Decade Of Retirement, Says Having To Work 10 More Years Was 'Painful'

A Reddit user slammed Jim Cramer's stock picks at the peak of the Dot-Com bubble, saying that the CNBC host's suggestions cost him a decade of retirement.

Will Santa Claus Rally Fail? Wall Street Divided Amid Mounting Volatility, Bearish Options Activity

Analysts offered mixed signals on the S&P 500's near-term outlook making a Santa rally uncertain, pointing to potential volatility, amid atypical seasonality and rising bearish options sentiment.

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks - Ad

Futurist Eric Fry say Amazon, Tesla and Nvidia are all on the verge of major disruption. To help protect anyone with money invested in them, he's sharing three exciting stocks to replace them with. He gives away the names and tickers completely free in his brand-new "Sell This, Buy That" broadcast.

Here's why everyone's talking about a 'K-shaped' economy

WASHINGTON (AP) — From corporate executives to Wall Street analysts to Federal Reserve officials, references to the “K-shaped economy” are rapidly proliferating.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Goes Bargain Shopping, Discloses Buying These Two Stocks At 52-Week Lows

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene disclosed some new stocks recently. Unlike past trades in 2024 and 2025, the latest disclosure is rather unique.

Inside: What's Going on Behind the Scenes in DC?

Inside: What's Going on Behind the Scenes in DC? - Ad

Former CIA officer Buck Sexton just met with Trump and VP J.D. Vance - and what he uncovered inside the West Wing is stunning. With ties to Tulsi Gabbard, Mike Johnson, Kash Patel, and more, he's rushing this urgent interview to reveal shocking secrets unfolding behind the scenes right now.

Officer Injured By January 6 Predicts Trump Will Flee US After 2026 Elections: 'He'll Be Hopping on That Qatari Jet to Saudi Arabia'

Former District of Columbia Metro police officer Michael Fanone has speculated that President Trump might leave the U.S. after the 2026 elections.

Donald Trump Nullifies 92% Of Joe Biden's Autopen-Signed Documents: 'Cancelling All Executive Orders And Anything Else'

Trump moved to invalidate what he claims are most of Biden's autopen-signed actions, sparking political backlash and renewed debate over the legality and precedent of using mechanical signatures for presidential documents.

$270,000 Drug. One Competitor. Billion-Dollar Market.

$270,000 Drug. One Competitor. Billion-Dollar Market. - Ad

Phase 3 trial targets recurrent pericarditis with an oral therapy that could disrupt the only approved treatment. And their heart failure program launches in 2026.

Trump attacks ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce in angry response to three sharp questions

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump denounced ABC News' Mary Bruce as a “terrible reporter” Tuesday and threatened the network's license to broadcast after she asked him three sharp questions at the White House.

US air travelers without REAL IDs will be charged a $45 fee

Air travelers in the U.S. without a will be charged a $45 fee beginning in February, the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday.

The Next Biggest Bull Run In Over 50 Years

The Next Biggest Bull Run In Over 50 Years - Ad

Gold has hit all-time highs, breaking $4,000 an ounce - but history shows it could be on the verge of its biggest bull run in over half a century... triggered by a likely major event, eerily similar to what happened in the 1970s. (It's NOT inflation or anything you're likely expecting.) Now, a top analyst says you can capture ALL of the upside without touching a risky miner or a boring exchange-traded fund. He sees extraordinary potential gains long term with very little risk.

Ross Gerber Says Meta's Smart Glasses Give Him 'Hope' To Give Up His Phone One Day — Just Like Mark Zuckerberg Predicted 10 Years Ago

Meta investor Ross Gerber says the company's new smart glasses give him hope of ditching his phone—a vision that aligns with Mark Zuckerberg's decade-old prediction, even as early reviews highlight impressive hardware but limited everyday usefulness.

Silver Breaks Out In A Short Squeeze, Rising Yields In Japan Hits Stocks and Bitcoin

Rising Yields In Japan

Weiss Gold Veteran Makes Shocking New Call

Weiss Gold Veteran Makes Shocking New Call - Ad

Weiss expert Sean Brodrick went out on a limb last year and declared a historic event would send the yellow metal to $3,150. People laughed at him at the time, but he was off by just two days. Now, Sean has a shocking new prediction for gold ... and reveals a little-known way to get ahead of this bull market.

ING Expands Broadcom Partnership To Accelerate Private Cloud Overhaul

Broadcom (AVGO) and ING expand partnership for private cloud modernization, aiming to deliver secure and scalable digital banking services.

US futures slip and Asian stocks are mixed, while oil prices surge more than $1 a barrel

BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares began the week mixed, with Tokyo’s benchmark falling nearly 2% on Monday after the release of data showing weak factory activity, while U.S. futures fell.

The $43B Big Pharma Story is Starting Over-With a New Player

The $43B Big Pharma Story is Starting Over-With a New Player - Ad

Big Pharma once paid $43B for a small biotech with a similar platform. Now, a new company is following that same playbook, leveraging its patented delivery technology to attract partnerships and near-term revenue potential.

How Tyson's Chicken Business Will Offset Beef Weakness

Tyson shares rise as pricing catch-up expected to ease cost pressures; chicken strength offsets beef headwinds amid stable feed costs.

FDA's Prasad Cites Alleged Child COVID Shot Deaths in Push for Stricter Rules

FDA's new vaccine strategy tightens approval rules after internal findings linked COVID-19 shots to several child deaths.

The Smart Money Copper Trade

The Smart Money Copper Trade - Ad

Only one lines up grade, scale potential, and Quebec power like this. Insider alignment is real. Stepouts are opening new zones. With EVs and grid buildouts rising, this could be the timely copper idea you have been waiting for.

Trump Withdraws Support For 'Wacky' Marjorie Taylor Greene In Sudden, Fiery Split: 'I Can't Take...'

President Donald Trump said he is withdrawing his endorsement of longtime ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — here's what happened.

Covet an Italian masterpiece, but shy of the millions? How about a digital copy at supercar prices

MILAN (AP) — The last person to get their hands on a painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci shelled out Now, Italian cultural officials are making it possible to purchase a limited edition, certified digital copy of the Renaissance genius’ “Lady with Disheveled Hair’’ for roughly the price of a Lamborghini.

Trump Signs Law to Launch Dollar 2.0

Trump Signs Law to Launch Dollar 2.0 - Ad

Trump just signed law S.1582, unleashing the biggest money shift in 100+ years. For the first time since 1913, private firms - not the Fed - can mint a "Dollar 2.0." Treasury says it could drain $6.6T from banks and pay 10X current savings rates. Early investors in minting firms could see 40X returns by 2032.

Elizabeth Warren Calls Trump 'Most Corrupt President' Citing Memecoin, Multi-Million CEO Dinners And Tax Cuts For Billionaires

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Sunday called President Donald Trump’s tenure the “most corrupt” in America’s history, criticizing his involvement in cryptocurrency ventures, meetings with leading industry figures, and other decisions.

Bitcoin dips below $85,000 in crypto currency rout

and companies tied to cryptocurrencies extended a nearly two-month swoon Monday, tracking with a broader market sell-off in technology companies that many see as overvalued.

Legally "Skim" $6,361 Into Your Account?

Legally "Skim" $6,361 Into Your Account? - Ad

A former hedge fund manager is now sharing his "Skim Codes" with regular people. They're not stocks. They're not crypto. They're 18-character codes designed to profit from recent market conditions. All you have to do is punch them into an ordinary brokerage account. 84% of these codes have given people the chance to generate cash payouts so far... and his next code is going out any day now.

California revokes 17,000 driver's licenses. But the state disputes it is over immigration concerns

California plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses given to immigrants after the Trump administration raised concerns about people in the country illegally receiving licenses to drive a semitruck or a bus. But Gov. Gavin Newsom said that isn't the reason.

Missouri launches sports betting as recent scandals shine a spotlight on the growing industry

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — As Missouri launches sports betting Monday, people will be able to wager on how many points a particular athlete will score in a game — so long as it doesn't involve a Missouri college or university.

Copper Is Tight, Silver Is Rising - And This Early Nevada Play Hits the Timing Perfectly

Copper Is Tight, Silver Is Rising - And This Early Nevada Play Hits the Timing Perfectly - Ad

Zohran Mamdani Says No More Thanking Veterans Today, Forgetting Tomorrow — Trump, Obama And Others Express Gratitude For Service

America's top political and tech leaders — including Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Tim Cook, and Sundar Pichai — marked Veterans Day 2025 with tributes honoring the courage and sacrifice of U.S. service members.

Cathie Wood Bets Big On These Stocks As Bitcoin, Ethereum Crash —Dumps Instagram Rival

On Tuesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades, notably increasing its holdings in Bullish (NYSE:BLSH), Coinbase Glo

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks - Ad

UK leader Keir Starmer backs his Treasury chief over claims she misled the public about the economy

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday defended his Treasury chief against opposition claims that she misled the public and the markets about the state of the public finances before .

Scaramucci Advocates For Market Solutions Amidst Rising Economic Challenges, Says 'People Like Mamdani Will Try And Use Socialist Means To Fix It'

Anthony Scaramucci emphasized the importance of market solutions to address societal issues, warning against potential socialist alternatives.

Inside: What's Going on Behind the Scenes in DC?

Inside: What's Going on Behind the Scenes in DC? - Ad

All 14 victims identified from fiery UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A grandfather and his young granddaughter. An electrician with two young children. A woman standing in line at a scrap metal business.

Trending Now