The UK government has signed a new partnership agreement with autonomous driving company Wayve to speed up the development and deployment of self-driving vehicle technology across the country.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU), announced by the Department for Business and Trade, aims to strengthen collaboration between government and industry on AI-powered autonomous mobility while also supporting the growth of UK-based scale-ups in the sector.

Under the agreement, the government said it will work together with Wayve on research focused on the safe and responsible deployment of automated vehicles, including safety assurance, large-scale simulation and the integration of self-driving systems into production-ready vehicles.

Wayve, which develops AI systems for autonomous driving, said the agreement would help strengthen domestic capabilities in self-driving technology and support the future of the UK automotive industry.

The partnership forms part of the government’s wider Modern Industrial Strategy, which is designed to support investment in high-growth technology sectors and reinforce the UK’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing and AI innovation.

The government added the partnership will also improve UK automotive supply chains across areas including AI, systems integration and advanced vehicle hardware.

Wayve will share insights gathered from real-world trials with regulators and policymakers to help inform future standards and regulation for autonomous transport services.

“Wayve is a true British AI success story, putting the UK at the forefront of self-driving technology,” said technology secretary Liz Kendall. “By working with companies such as Wayve we are rebuilding Britain for the modern age and sending a clear signal that the UK is the best place for ambitious tech firms to start up and scale up.”

---