Wayve’s self-driving technology has secured backing from a wide range of investors in its latest $1.2 billion funding round, including three automakers, leading venture and institutional firms, and returning supporters Microsoft, Nvidia, and Uber.

The total raise could reach $1.5 billion, with an additional $300 million from Uber tied to launching robotaxis, starting in London, according to TechCrunch.

The funding round underscores the enthusiasm of Big Tech, established automakers, and investors to tap into the expanding autonomous driving market.

The founder and CEO of Wayve, Alex Kendall told TechCrunch on Tuesday that the tech company delivers what he termed a “contrarian” approach to autonomous driving, unconventional in both its technology and business approach.

“I think the technology chessboard is set around where different companies have invested on the technology strategy, and now the commercial chessboard is being arranged,” Kendall said. “We took a very contrarian view on the technology side. We were the first to build end-to-end deep learning for autonomous driving, and we pioneered this approach. Now, when it comes to this phase of moving into commercialization, we’re also taking a contrarian business model approach.”

Launched in 2017, Wayve adopts a self-learning software strategy, developing an end-to-end neural network that eliminates the need for high-definition maps and relies solely on data to train vehicles how to drive.

This data-driven approach powers two products: an “eyes-on” driver-assistance system and an “eyes-off” fully autonomous system that can be used in robotaxis or consumer vehicles designed to handle all driving functions in defined settings.

Wayve’s software is also designed to operate on the existing chips already installed in its OEM partners’ vehicles.