Waabi raises $1B to advance autonomous trucks and robotaxis

Waabi will use its Physical AI System created for vehicles to robotaxis in an increased collaboration with Uber. Resource: Waabi

Much more AI-enabled automobiles are involving the roadways, as Waabi today claimed it has actually shut an oversubscribed $750 million Collection C round to increase its commercialization of independent vehicles. The business has actually likewise safeguarded extra financial investment from Uber Technologies Inc. and claimed the critical collaboration will certainly sustain its growth right into robotaxis.

” Waabi’s Physical AI System has actually allowed us to strike an industry-leading rate in the advancement and commercialization of independent vehicles over the previous couple of years,” specified Raquel Urtasun, owner and chief executive officer of Waabi.

” Our existing self-driving capacities throughout freeways and generalised surface area roads have actually opened a brand-new direct-to-customer version that for the very first time fixes the discomfort factors of the sector and gives an unmatched chance to promptly and effortlessly get in the robotaxi market, supplying a really scalable service for both verticals,” she included.

Established In 2021, Waabi claimed its Physical AI System generalises to various kind elements, locations, and settings. The system “integrates a proven end-to-end AI version efficient in thinking together with the globe’s most innovative neural simulator,” asserted the Toronto-based business.

Waabi and Uber to bring AI mind to both vehicles and taxis

Waabi claimed its strategy allows the exact same AI version to serve as a “common mind” for both independent vehicles and robotaxis. The business insisted that its growth right into self-driving guest automobiles will inevitably boost the Waabi Vehicle driver’s general capacities.

Under the collaboration, Uber will certainly spend extra milestone-based resources to sustain the advancement of robotaxis making use of the Waabi Vehicle driver. The firms claimed they intend to release 25,000 or even more independent automobiles (AVs).

” We are enjoyed companion with the best-in-class ridesharing system to produce a much safer, extra reliable, and lasting future,” claimed Urtasun.

Waabi formerly partnered with Uber Products in 2023, and Uber took part in its $200 million Collection B round in 2024.

” Waabi’s broadened concentrate on robotaxis notes a vital landmark for their group and the AV sector extra generally,” claimed Dara Khosrowshahi, Chief Executive Officer of Uber. “We’re extremely delighted to grow our collaboration with Waabi as they dramatically scale their Physical AI System and get in a brand-new stage of a currently exceptional trip.”

While it marketed its Advanced Technologies Team (ATG) to Aurora Advancement in 2020, Uber has actually likewise purchased various other AV designers, consisting of Nuro, Lucid, and Wayve, and it has actually partnered with robotaxi carriers Motional, Waymo, and WeRide.

Automotive leaders, Canadian capitalists sign up with Waabi round

Khosla Ventures and G2 Endeavor companions co-led Waabi’s Collection C round, which the business claimed is the biggest fundraise in Canadian background.

” We buy the firms that are leading the AI age,” claimed Vinod Khosla, owner of Khosla Ventures. “Waabi has actually created a really cutting-edge physical AI system that stands for an essential jump ahead in just how next-generation driverless innovation is being created.”

Various other critical capitalists consisted of NVentures (NVIDIA’s financial backing arm), Volvo Team Equity Capital, and Porsche Automobil Holding SE.

” Waabi is essentially transforming the trajectory of independent transport,” claimed Creek Doorperson, founder and companion at G2 Endeavor Allies. “Their simulation-first, end-to-end AI is an effective enabler, speeding up industrial fostering while considerably lowering resources requirements to range. Waabi is opening the possibility for freedom to drive automobile effectiveness and use, militarizing the change to a much more lasting transport system.”

On top of that, funds and accounts taken care of by BlackRock, Radical Ventures, HarbourVest Allies, a completely possessed subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Financial Investment Authority (ADIA), Linse Funding, Incharge Funding, and others took part in the financial investment. Waabi kept in mind that Canadian companies such as BDC Funding’s Thrive Endeavor Fund, Export Growth Canada (EDC), TELUS Global Ventures, and BMO International Property Monitoring were amongst its backers.

Waabi’s Collection C rounded signs up with various other huge robotaxi financial investments, consisting of Waymo’s $5.6 billion Collection C in 2024, Cruise ship’s $2.75 billion round in 2021, and Aurora’s $820 million supply sale in 2024. In independent trucking, Einride increased $100 million in October 2025, while Plus Automation and Kodiak Robotics went public by means of special-purpose purchase firms (SPACs) in 2014.

The blog post Waabi elevates $1B to progress independent vehicles and robotaxis showed up initially on The Robotic Record.