Uber is making a significant leap into the autonomous ride-hailing market by partnering with Lucid Motors and Nuro to launch a robotaxi fleet featuring Lucid Gravity electric SUVs. Uber plans to introduce this service in a major U.S. city in late 2026. The company intends to deploy at least 20,000 robotaxis over six years.

Strategic Shift Towards Autonomous Vehicles

This move signals a strategic shift for Uber, which previously sold its self-driving unit to Aurora in 2020. Now, instead of developing autonomous technology in-house, Uber is focusing on partnerships and investments in specialized companies. This approach allows Uber to leverage the expertise of leaders in the EV and autonomous driving sectors. Uber has already established partnerships with other autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo, May Mobility, Volkswagen, and Baidu.

Lucid Gravity: The Robotaxi Platform

The Lucid Gravity SUV will serve as the foundation for Uber's robotaxi fleet. Uber chose Lucid's SUV because the company can integrate the necessary hardware at its factory. The Gravity is an all-electric SUV known for its spacious interior, versatility, and long driving range. Its features include:

• Spacious Interior: The Gravity offers seating for up to seven adults with completely fold-flat second and third rows, providing up to 120 cubic feet of cargo space.
• Long Range: The Gravity boasts an EPA-estimated range of up to 450 miles, reducing downtime for charging and maximizing vehicle availability. It can add up to 200 miles of range in approximately 11 minutes using a 350-kW DC fast charger.
• Performance: The Gravity Grand Touring boasts 828 horsepower and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.
• Advanced Technology: The Gravity features a 34-inch curved touchscreen display, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and optional features like hands-free driving and lane change assist.

Nuro's Autonomous Driving Technology

Nuro, a company specializing in autonomous vehicle technology, will provide the self-driving capabilities for the Lucid Gravity robotaxis. Nuro's "Nuro Driver" system enables Level 4 autonomy, which allows the vehicles to operate without human intervention in specific conditions. Uber will invest a significant amount in Nuro as part of this partnership. A Lucid-Nuro robotaxi prototype is already undergoing testing at Nuro's proving grounds in Las Vegas.

Uber's Investment and Deployment Plans

Uber is investing $300 million in Lucid as part of this collaboration. This investment will help upgrade Lucid's assembly line to integrate Nuro's hardware into the Gravity vehicles. Uber plans to deploy 20,000 or more Lucid vehicles equipped with the Nuro Driver system over six years. These vehicles will be owned and operated by Uber or its third-party fleet partners and made available to riders exclusively via the Uber platform.

Impact and Future Outlook

Uber's CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, believes that autonomous vehicles have the potential to transform cities. The partnership with Lucid and Nuro aims to bring the benefits of autonomous driving to more people. The deployment of robotaxis could optimize fleet efficiency, reduce emissions, and lower operational costs for Uber. This initiative aligns with Uber's vision for a shared, electric, and multimodal future where autonomous vehicles and human drivers work together. While the full replacement of human drivers is not expected soon, Uber anticipates autonomous vehicles will work alongside human drivers for at least the next decade.

This collaboration signifies the growing convergence of ride-hailing services and electric vehicle technology in the autonomous transportation sector. As the technology advances and regulatory frameworks evolve, the deployment of electric robotaxis could reshape urban mobility and offer a glimpse into the future of transportation.