A consortium that includes SoftBank Group is in late-stage talks to invest $1 billion or more in Uber Technologies Inc.’s self-driving vehicle unit, according to people familiar with the negotiations, a move that would help the ride-hailing firm make its pitch to investors ahead of its eagerly anticipated IPO.

Under terms being discussed, SoftBank’s Vision Fund and other investors, including at least one unnamed auto maker, would take a minority stake in the unit at a valuation of between $5 billion and $10 billion, the people said. The talks are fluid and could still fall apart, these people warned. Should a deal materialize, it could surface next month.

For Uber, the arrangement would provide much-needed cash for an ambitious and costly venture; it would lighten its future funding obligations, while enabling it to maintain control of the unit. In 2017, Uber spent about $750 million on self-driving development before making cuts in 2018, according to people familiar with the matter.

Bringing in auto companies as investors would help the Uber unit with the enormous task of developing the technology required to make self-driving taxis a reality. It is an increasingly crowded field. Both Alphabet Inc., through its Waymo division, and General Motors Co. , through GM Cruise, have made significant investments in self-driving cars. SoftBank’s giant Vision Fund holds a nearly 20% stake in the GM venture following a $2.2 billion investment.

Uber is aiming for an initial public offering that could come in May or June and value the startup at as much as $120 billion, according to bankers. The company is eager to get an autonomous-driving deal in place so it can tout the unit’s value and growth prospects to prospective investors in the company, the people said.