Mercedes-Benz vehicles are set to integrate autonomous driving technology from U.K. start-up Wayve after the companies signed a production agreement Tuesday.
The deal to use Wayve's AI Driver system will see the German luxury automaker start to fit the new tech in vehicles in the next two years, enabling "advanced urban point-to-point driving assistance," the companies said in a joint statement.
Point-to-point systems allow vehicles to drive along a complete route, handling the steering and navigating and responding to traffic, but under continuous active monitoring by the driver, similar to Tesla's Full Self-Driving system.
Wayve's AI Driver integrates into a vehicle's own onboard software and allows automakers to improve automated driving capabilities over time.
"Together with Wayve, we are laying the foundation to roll out this technology worldwide," said Mercedes-Benz's Chief Technology Officer Joerg Burzer said.
Mercedes invested in Wayve's $1.2 billion Series D funding round earlier this year, a financing that also drew investment from the likes of Microsoft, Nvidia, Uber, as well as automakers Nissan and Stellantis, who have already signed partnership deals with the British company.
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