Uber Commits Over 20,000 Lucid Robotaxis with Nuro Tech in Major Autonomous Push

Uber Technologies Inc. has announced a significant expansion of its autonomous vehicle strategy, partnering with electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Group and self-driving technology company Nuro Inc. The collaboration, unveiled on July 17, 2025, involves Uber investing hundreds of millions of dollars into both companies and committing to deploy over 20,000 Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with Nuro's autonomous driving system over the next six years. The first robotaxi service is slated to launch in a major U.S. city in late 2026.

As part of the multi-faceted agreement, Uber will invest $300 million in Lucid and a "multi-hundred-million-dollar" sum in Nuro. These Lucid Gravity vehicles, designed with Nuro's Level 4 autonomous software, will be owned and operated by Uber or its third-party fleet partners, exclusively available through the Uber platform. A prototype is already undergoing autonomous testing at Nuro’s Las Vegas proving grounds.

This partnership marks a pivotal moment for Uber, which previously divested its own autonomous vehicle division in 2020. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated, > "We're thrilled to partner with Nuro and Lucid on this new robotaxi program, purpose-built just for the Uber platform, to safely bring the magic of autonomous driving to more people across the world." The move underscores Uber's renewed focus on leveraging third-party autonomous technology to scale its ride-hailing services.

For Lucid, the deal provides a substantial boost, guaranteeing the sale of its Gravity SUVs and injecting crucial capital. Lucid interim CEO Marc Winterhoff noted, "This investment from Uber further validates Lucid's fully redundant zonal architecture and highly capable platform as ideal for autonomous vehicles." Nuro also gains significant validation for its pivot to a licensing model for its autonomous driving system, having previously focused on delivery bots. Nuro co-founder and president Dave Ferguson highlighted the agreement's scale, saying, "In terms of the scale and the hard commitments and the meat behind it, it is by far the biggest partnership deal that Uber has announced or done."

The robotaxi market is rapidly intensifying, with established players like Waymo (Alphabet's self-driving unit) and Tesla expanding their services. Uber's latest collaboration positions it as a major contender, aiming to offer a premium robotaxi experience globally. The companies anticipate that the integrated prototype's successful testing will pave the way for widespread commercial deployment, making autonomous mobility more accessible.