Wayve, a UK-based startup focused on self-driving technology, has launched its testing programme for self-learning automated driving software in San Francisco, the US.

The move marks Wayve's first on-road trials outside the UK.

The US testing programme will focus on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which are designed to improve the safety and convenience of urban and highway driving.

Wayve co-founder and CEO Alex Kendall said: “Today marks a major milestone for Wayve. We are now testing our AI software in real-world environments across two continents. After years of pioneering a data-driven mapless AI Driver that can generalise across different vehicles and cities in the UK, we are excited to bring this technology to the US.

“San Francisco’s unique driving conditions offer rich data insights that will be crucial in further developing a global AI platform for automotive customers.”

This initiative is part of Wayve's plan to broaden the geographic reach of its AI Driver product, creating a foundation for scalable driving software that functions in diverse environments worldwide.

To support this new phase of testing and to strengthen local partnerships, the company opened a new office in Sunnyvale, California.

The Silicon Valley team will concentrate on software development, hardware integration, and deployment operations.

Wayve VP of commercial and operations Kaity Fischer said: “Launching our US testing programme in California deepens our collaboration with key partners like Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Uber. Their support in cloud computing, silicon, and mobility services will accelerate the creation of a global ecosystem that will bring our AI-driving technology to automotive partners.”

Wayve noted that it is creating software that allows car manufacturers to provide a wide range of driver assistance and automation features.

Wayve's AV2.0 approach uses an end-to-end AI system that learns from data, moving away from rule-based systems and geofenced routes. This strategy tackles key industry challenges related to safety and scalability.

Wayve, backed by over $1.3bn from investors such as SoftBank, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Uber, and Eclipse Ventures, is focusing on scaling its driving automation technology for consumer vehicles worldwide.

The US expansion is part of Wayve's long-term strategy to provide AI-powered driving software that can adapt to different driving environments and cultures.

As Wayve refines its Embodied AI products, it plans to announce additional global expansion efforts in the coming year.