Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, is in advanced talks to inject $500 million (£400m) into Wayve, a London-based self-driving car start-up, in a move that underscores the growing role of artificial intelligence in the future of mobility.
The potential funding comes just a year after Nvidia took part in Wayve’s record-breaking $1.1 billion fundraising round, which also included Microsoft. That round was the largest in history for a European AI business and positioned Wayve among the most prominent players in the sector.
The new investment was revealed during an event in London coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s state visit. At the gathering, Nvidia pledged £2 billion in commitments to UK start-ups across artificial intelligence and financial technology. Recipients include digital bank Revolut and video AI company Synthesia.
Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s chief executive, told an audience of tech leaders and investors that he believed the UK’s first trillion-dollar company would emerge from the artificial intelligence sector. “Support from Nvidia underscores confidence in our approach to AI and its potential to transform the future of mobility,” said Alex Kendall, Wayve’s co-founder and chief executive.
Founded in London, Wayve is developing AI-driven systems that enable vehicles to interpret their surroundings and operate without human intervention. The company is already backed by major names including SoftBank, Uber and Eclipse Ventures.
Alongside the commitment to Wayve, Nvidia also unveiled a £500 million investment in Nscale, an AI infrastructure firm that Huang described as a potential “national champion for the UK.” He forecast the start-up could generate as much as £50 billion in cumulative revenues over the next six years.
The wave of announcements formed part of a broader surge in US capital commitments during Trump’s visit. These include a £90 billion pledge from investment giant Blackstone and up to £1.5 billion from Palantir, the data analytics company co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel. In total, American firms have promised £150 billion in new investment.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the developments, calling them a milestone in the UK’s ambition to position itself as a global technology hub. “Today we put tech out there as a special feature of the special relationship,” Starmer said. “Thank you so much, Jensen, for your confidence in what we are doing and your investment.”
For Wayve, the fresh backing from Nvidia cements its standing as one of Europe’s most promising AI mobility ventures and provides a powerful boost as it seeks to compete globally. For the UK, the influx of American capital highlights its growing importance as a hub for artificial intelligence investment, even as policymakers grapple with challenges around regulation, digital infrastructure and skills.
