Uber is investing millions of dollars into U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid and autonomous driving startup Nuro as part of its ambitious plan to roll out a high-end robotaxi service.
Uber, Lucid, and Nuro are collaborating to deploy over 20,000 robotaxis across the U.S. within the next six years. The fleet will feature Lucid’s upcoming Gravity SUV, outfitted with Nuro’s autonomous driving systems, and will be accessible solely through the Uber app. Ownership of the vehicles will rest with Uber or a designated fleet management partner, with the first wave expected to launch in an undisclosed U.S. city in 2026.
Uber is committing $300 million to Lucid, according to the automaker’s spokesperson, Nick Twork, and the amount invested in Nuro will be “substantially higher,” as reported by The Verge.
Marc Winterhoff, Lucid’s interim CEO, highlighted that the partnership will enable the company’s entry into a completely new market segment by utilizing its 450-mile-range electric vehicles to deliver greater affordability and enhanced accessibility. Prototype testing has already begun at Nuro’s testing facility in Las Vegas.
As part of the deal, Uber will acquire and manage Lucid Gravity SUVs fitted with autonomous vehicle technology developed by Nuro. The $300 million investment in Lucid will also go toward upgrading its production line to incorporate Nuro’s hardware into the Gravity models.
Nuro will develop the Level 4 autonomous system, capable of transporting passengers without human intervention under typical traffic and weather conditions.
Lucid’s team will handle the installation of sensors and hardware on the Gravity SUV production line, after which the vehicles will be loaded with Nuro’s software and handed over to Uber for deployment. Additionally, Nuro will build a comprehensive safety framework covering dozens of criteria, utilizing simulations, controlled track testing, and supervised real-world driving.
Uber’s move highlights its reentry into the robotaxi market, marking a fresh drive following its departure from the sector in 2020. The collaboration with Lucid and Nuro comes after Uber’s partnership with Alphabet-backed Waymo, which recently extended its robotaxi services to Atlanta and Austin, Texas.
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