Uber, Lucid, and Nuro Announce Plan to Launch Over 20,000 Robotaxis Worldwide
Uber, Lucid Group, and Nuro have unveiled a major alliance to roll out more than 20,000 autonomous electric SUVs as robotaxis across cities globally. The program, which will span at least six years, marks one of the largest commercial deployments of self-driving vehicles to date. Uber is investing $300 million in Lucid, the electric vehicle maker, while Nuro will provide the advanced self-driving technology required for this ambitious fleet. The first robotaxi service is set to launch in a major U.S. city late next year, with rapid expansion planned for dozens of markets worldwide.
The new fleet will use the Lucid Gravity SUV, known for its long 450-mile range and fast-charging capabilities. Each vehicle will be factory-equipped for Level 4 autonomy, meaning they can operate without a human driver in most conditions. These robotaxis will be owned or operated by Uber and its partners, and exclusively available to riders via the Uber platform. The first prototype is already being put through its paces at Nuro’s testing facility in Las Vegas.
Alliance Signals Race for Leadership in Autonomous Ride-Hailing
This collaboration signals Uber’s return to the forefront of autonomous vehicle development as competition heats up among technology and transportation giants. The partnership brings together Lucid’s innovative EV engineering, Nuro’s AI-powered Level 4 self-driving system, and Uber’s global mobility network. Uber, which was previously cautious after setbacks in its early self-driving ambitions, is now betting big on robotaxis as the next stage of urban mobility.
Other major players like Tesla and Alphabet’s Waymo have been ramping up their own robotaxi programs. Waymo recently expanded to new cities, while Tesla launched a pilot in Austin with vehicles rated at Level 2 automation, which still require drivers to monitor. In contrast, Lucid's robotaxis with Nuro’s technology aim for true hands-off operation, using artificial intelligence, advanced hardware, and rigorous safety testing. With its massive investment and a fleet ready to serve millions, Uber is positioning itself for leadership in the fast-growing, high-stakes urban autonomy market.
Lucid, for its part, sees this as a unique opportunity to expand beyond luxury consumer EVs into the global ridesharing sector. Marc Winterhoff, Lucid’s interim CEO, called the partnership a strategic leap into a “completely new market” that could eventually include future EV models. Nuro, backed by tech leaders like Google and SoftBank, is responsible for continuous safety validation and will leverage nearly a decade of experience in autonomous deployments.
Ultimately, this partnership aims to deliver a robotaxi experience focused on safety, reliability, and efficiency at a global scale, using vehicles that are designed not just for autonomy, but with comfort and massive platform integration in mind. If successful, the collaboration could be a pivotal moment for how people move through the world’s cities in the years ahead.