Key facts
- Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said the partnership with Wayve could cut development times and costs for advanced driver-assistance systems.
- The automaker's first product launch using Wayve's technology is targeted for 2028 in North America.
- Stellantis aims to reduce development timelines, currently around 24 months, by working with technology partners like Wayve.
- Wayve's technology is designed for deployment across multiple vehicle brands and markets.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares stated that the automaker's partnership with British startup Wayve is expected to significantly reduce the time and expense associated with developing advanced driver-assistance systems, as carmakers race to bring autonomous features to market. Speaking at the Wave technology event in Turin, Tavares emphasized that achieving automotive scale, a key asset Stellantis brings to the partnership, will be crucial for making hands-free driving affordable and accelerating adoption.
The collaboration aims to shorten development timelines, which currently stand at around 24 months for Stellantis. The automaker announced in May that it would integrate Wayve's AI-powered driving software into its STLA AutoDrive platform, with a first product launch targeted for 2028 in North America. European regulators are still working to harmonize approval rules for these sophisticated assisted-driving systems.
Traditional automakers are increasingly turning to specialist technology firms as costs soar and returns take longer than anticipated. Wayve also collaborates with other automakers, including Nissan and Mercedes, and its technology is designed for broad deployment across various brands and markets. Wayve CEO Alex Kendall highlighted the diversity of Stellantis' brands, such as Jeep, Fiat, Peugeot, and Maserati, as an opportunity to tailor autonomous driving characteristics using a single AI system.
The partnership emerges amid intense competition in the automated driving sector, with Tesla actively seeking regulatory approval for its Full Self-Driving technology in Europe, arguing for its potential to enhance road safety. Stellantis and Wayve demonstrated hands-free driving capabilities in Fiat 500e and Maserati Grecale development vehicles at the event.