Ride-sharing giant Uber partners with Lucid and autonomous vehicle company Nuro for a planned launch of robotaxis in 2026, backed by Saudi investments.
In a groundbreaking move, Uber, Lucid Motors, and Nuro have announced plans to launch a next-generation global robotaxi program in a major U.S. city in late 2026. The ambitious initiative aims to deploy thousands of Lucid vehicles equipped with Nuro's Level 4 autonomy system over six years, with the potential for expansion to numerous markets worldwide[1][2][3].
The safety of these autonomous vehicles is of paramount importance. The integration of Nuro's Level 4 autonomy system and Lucid's software-defined vehicle architecture suggests a robust focus on safety and reliability. The Level 4 autonomous capability allows for vehicles to operate without human intervention under specific conditions, ensuring a high level of safety and efficiency[1][2].
The vehicles for this program will be based on the Lucid Gravity SUV, designed for efficiency and comfort, making it suitable for a premium robotaxi service. The vehicles will be owned and operated by Uber or its third-party fleet partners and will be made available exclusively through the Uber platform[1][2].
Uber has made a significant financial commitment to this partnership, with a reported $300 million investment in Lucid and an undisclosed multi-hundred-million-dollar investment in Nuro. This substantial investment underscores the seriousness of Uber's robotaxi initiative and its commitment to integrating advanced autonomous technology into its services[4].
Dara Khosrowshahi, chief executive of Uber, stated that autonomous vehicles have enormous potential to transform cities for the better. The benefits of self-driving vehicles are intended to be made accessible to people everywhere by Uber. The Uber-Lucid-Nuro service may potentially be expanded to other regions, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, although no comment has been received from the companies regarding the potential expansion[5][6].
The Uber-Lucid-Nuro partnership is seen as a step towards extending innovation and technology leadership in the multi-trillion-dollar autonomous vehicle market. Moreover, the partnership aims to support the sustainable transport agenda countries are pursuing[7]. Nuro will be responsible for the development and validation of safety cases for the robotaxi, using simulations, closed course testing, and supervised on-road testing[8].
GlobalData's 2023 study suggests that it may take 20 years to achieve fully autonomous vehicles. However, the first Uber robotaxi prototype is already operating autonomously on a closed circuit in Las Vegas[9]. The level of vehicle autonomy for the Uber robotaxis will be level 4, which requires human intervention under most circumstances[10].
As Uber's operations in 70 countries and 34 million daily trips give it the resources to make self-driving vehicles accessible to people worldwide, the launch of this global robotaxi program could mark a significant milestone in the journey towards autonomous transportation.
- This partnership between Uber, Lucid Motors, and Nuro plans to launch a robotaxi program in a major U.S. city in late 2026, with a focus on expanding to numerous markets worldwide, including the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
- Uber has made a significant financial commitment to this initiative, investing $300 million in Lucid and making a multi-hundred-million-dollar investment in Nuro, reflecting its seriousness about integrating advanced autonomous technology into its services.
- The vehicles for this program will be based on the Lucid Gravity SUV, designed for efficiency and comfort, and will be used in a premium robotaxi service, available exclusively through the Uber platform.
- Nuro will be responsible for the development and validation of safety cases for the robotaxi, using simulations, closed course testing, and supervised on-road testing to ensure the highest level of safety and reliability.
- With autonomous vehicles having the potential to transform cities for the better, Uber aims to make these benefits accessible to people everywhere, especially in regions like the Middle East.
- The Uber-Lucid-Nuro partnership is a strategic move to extend innovation and technology leadership in the multi-trillion-dollar autonomous vehicle market and support the sustainable transport agenda countries are pursuing.
