The UK government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with autonomous vehicle company Wayve, aiming to accelerate the commercialisation of self-driving technology.
The non-binding agreement between the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Wayve focuses on joint research covering safety assurance, large-scale simulation and the integration of full self-driving systems into production-ready vehicle platforms.
Under the arrangement, both sides will work on moving automated vehicle technology beyond pilot and prototype phases towards commercial deployment.
DBT will coordinate with local authorities to explore potential deployment opportunities aligned with Wayve’s rollout plans, while the company will provide insights from real-world testing to help inform regulatory development.
UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “This partnership with Wayve shows how government is backing high‑growth British scale‑ups through our Modern Industrial Strategy to turn world‑leading research into real‑world deployment.
“By working hand‑in‑hand with innovative companies, we are accelerating self‑driving technology while anchoring jobs, investment and manufacturing here in the UK - making Britain the best place to start, scale and grow a business.”
The agreement also includes measures aimed at strengthening the domestic supply chain, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), systems integration and advanced automotive hardware.
The MoU further outlines plans for collaboration on international standards and frameworks for automated driving technologies.
It does not create legally binding obligations and does not involve any commitment of public funding.
According to the statement, DBT would continue promoting UK AI capabilities in export markets.
The agreement builds on the UK government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan.
The strategy has generated around £360bn ($486.28bn) in investment commitments, £33bn in export announcements and 120,000 jobs since its publication, the press statement added.
Any future commercial or funding arrangements would remain subject to applicable legal and government processes.
Wayve co-founder and CEO Alex Kendall added: “I am delighted to deepen our collaboration with the Department for Business and Trade. We share the Government’s ambition to drive economic growth through the development of the self-driving vehicle sector in the UK and globally.”
