The Department for Business and Trade and Wayve signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 12 May 2026 to expand collaboration on self-driving technology research and deployment across the UK automotive sector. The agreement focuses on safety assurance, large-scale simulation and integration of automated vehicle systems into production-ready platforms while supporting investment and skilled jobs.
The agreement was announced by the Department for Business and Trade alongside Technology Secretary Peter Kyle and follows wider government efforts to support advanced manufacturing and AI-enabled mobility industries. The partnership aims to strengthen the UK’s position in automated vehicle development and encourage technology companies to expand domestically.
Wayve, a British autonomous driving company specialising in AI-powered vehicle systems, will work with government departments and regulators on research linked to commercially viable self-driving services. The collaboration also includes sharing insights from real-world vehicle trials to support future standards and national deployment planning.
Government and Wayve Sign New Partnership
The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a formal collaboration between the UK Government and Wayve on next-generation self-driving vehicle technologies. The agreement is intended to support responsible deployment of autonomous vehicle systems alongside wider UK transport and manufacturing ambitions.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the partnership aligns with the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and wider plans to support high-growth British scale-ups. The department stated that linking AI research with industrial deployment could support long-term growth across the automotive sector.
- Partnership Focus: Research collaboration on automated vehicle systems and deployment readiness.
- Industrial Aim: Support investment, manufacturing activity and skilled employment across the UK automotive ecosystem.
Research and Deployment Priorities
The partnership will focus on research areas including safety assurance, simulation at scale and integration of self-driving systems into production-ready vehicle platforms. The agreement also supports collaboration between industry, regulators and government bodies involved in automated vehicle policy.
The Department for Business and Trade said Wayve will provide insights from operational trials to help inform future regulations and standards. The Government added that the research could support future national deployment of self-driving vehicle services operating on UK roads.
- Safety Research: Joint work on assurance processes and responsible deployment standards.
- Vehicle Integration: Collaboration on production-ready autonomous driving platforms.
Automated Vehicle Partnership Areas
| Indicator | Recent Movement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Research Collaboration | Expanded | Government and Wayve agreed to deepen cooperation on automated vehicle technologies. |
| Safety Assurance | Priority Area | Officials identified safety and simulation research as part of deployment planning. |
| Industrial Support | Ongoing | The partnership forms part of wider support for UK advanced manufacturing and AI sectors. |
Supporting UK Automotive Manufacturing
Government officials said the agreement supports ambitions to strengthen domestic automotive supply chains linked to AI systems integration and advanced vehicle hardware. The partnership is also intended to encourage companies to continue scaling operations within the UK rather than overseas markets.
The Department for Business and Trade said the initiative could support investment and employment opportunities connected to advanced manufacturing. Ministers stated that collaboration with fast-growing technology firms forms part of wider economic growth objectives under the Modern Industrial Strategy.
Wayve’s Role in UK Autonomous Driving Development
Wayve said it plans to continue developing autonomous driving technology in the UK while working with government departments on shared priorities. Company officials stated that domestic capabilities in automated vehicles could support manufacturing activity and supply chain growth.
Wayve said future deployment of self-driving systems could support road safety research and wider transport-sector investment. That collaboration with regulators and government agencies would support future rollout planning for automated vehicle services.
Government and Industry Objectives
| Indicator | Recent Movement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| UK Manufacturing | Expansion Target | The partnership supports domestic automotive production and supply chains. |
| Technology Investment | Encouraged | The agreement aims to attract further investment into autonomous vehicle development. |
| Regulatory Cooperation | Increased | Wayve will share operational insights with regulators and government departments. |
UK Industrial Strategy and Future Regulation
The government said the partnership supports broader ambitions to position Britain as a global hub for automated vehicle manufacturing and AI-enabled mobility services. The partnership forms part of wider efforts to attract investment into advanced manufacturing and emerging technology sectors.
Ministers also said collaboration between government and technology firms could help shape future regulations and operational standards for automated vehicles. The Department for Business and Trade stated that more than £360 billion in investment and 120,000 jobs had already been secured through wider industrial strategy activity.
Stakeholder Comments
Ministerial Comments
Peter Kyle, Business Secretary 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.”
Liz Kendall, Science and Technology Secretary said;
“Wayve is a true British AI success story, putting the UK at the forefront of self-driving technology.”
“This agreement will help secure high-skilled tech and advanced manufacturing jobs in this country.”
Alex Kendall, Co-Founder and CEO, Wayve said;
“We share the Government’s ambition to drive economic growth through the development of the self-driving vehicle sector in the UK and globally.”
“Strengthening domestic capabilities will anchor high-value manufacturing in the UK, create thousands of skilled jobs across the supply chain, and support the future of the automotive industry.”
The agreement between the UK Government and Wayve expands collaboration on self-driving vehicle research, manufacturing and deployment planning across Britain. The partnership will support work on safety assurance, regulation and production-ready autonomous vehicle systems while encouraging investment in advanced manufacturing and AI technology. The initiative also forms part of wider industrial strategy efforts focused on economic growth, technology development and domestic supply chain expansion.
Sources: Department for Business and Trade and The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Liz Kendall and Wayve officials.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
