SAN FRANCISCO — Uber’s autonomous vehicle unit is receiving a new investment, the company said late Thursday, just days before it begins pitching its business to public investors.

SoftBank, Toyota and the Japanese automaker Denso will put $1 billion toward Uber’s effort to develop autonomous cars. As Uber marches toward an I.P.O., the deal will help shield the company from tough questions about how the money-losing endeavor is harming its profit prospects.

The self-driving unit, known as the Autonomous Technology Group, or A.T.G., will be restructured as part of the deal, allowing for a targeted investment rather than a broad investment in Uber, a ride-hailing giant with a number of smaller businesses. The self-driving group will answer to its own corporate board, made up of representatives from Uber, SoftBank and Toyota, with Uber maintaining majority control.

The deal values this unit at $7.25 billion, the company said. Toyota and Denso’s investment totals $667 million, while SoftBank’s is $333 million.