Uber plans to infuse $300 million into electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid, as part of an agreement for autonomous taxi projects.
Uber has announced a significant partnership with electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors and autonomous vehicle startup Nuro, marking a renewed push into the robotaxi space following its exit in 2020. The deal involves Uber investing $300 million in Lucid and an undisclosed amount in Nuro, with plans to deploy over 20,000 Lucid Gravity luxury electric SUVs equipped with Nuro’s Level 4 self-driving technology over the next six years, exclusively on the Uber platform.
The partnership signifies Uber’s commitment to building a premium robotaxi network leveraging proven technology and extensive fleet scale. Uber currently operates in 70 countries with 34 million trips per day.
The modified Lucid Gravity vehicles, integrated with Nuro’s autonomous driving hardware, will begin production in late 2026. Uber aims to launch its robotaxi service in a major U.S. city as early as 2026-2027, with autonomous testing already underway on closed circuits at Nuro’s Las Vegas proving grounds. The robotaxis will be owned and operated either by Uber itself or by its third-party fleet partners such as Alto or Avomo.
Nuro’s AI-powered Level 4 self-driving system, known as Nuro Driver™, integrates automotive-grade hardware and software, enabling safe, scalable, and reliable autonomous driving. The Lucid Gravity SUV was chosen for its 450-mile EPA driving range, reducing downtime for charging and enhancing fleet utilization and cost efficiency. The hardware for autonomy will be integrated directly on Lucid’s assembly line, after which Nuro’s software will be installed when Uber commissions the vehicles.
The deal was a year in the making, reflecting a carefully chosen partnership to meet Uber’s ambition for a large-scale autonomous ride-hailing service. Lucid’s interim CEO, Marc Winterhoff, stated that the company is expanding beyond its traditional EV technology leadership and working on partnerships, including areas they have not focused on in the past.
This news has caused a surge in shares of Lucid, with the stock price increasing by more than 56% due to the announcement. Other companies, such as Amazon.com's Zoox and Tesla, are also testing and planning to launch their own robotaxi services this year. Waymo has already crossed 100 million miles of autonomous driving this month, operating in several U.S. cities with about 1,500 vehicles.
As commercializing autonomous vehicle technology remains challenging due to high costs, tight regulations, and federal investigations, Uber’s partnership with Lucid and Nuro represents a significant step forward in the development and deployment of large-scale, premium robotaxi services.
- The partnership between Uber, Lucid Motors, and autonomous vehicle startup Nuro signifies an investment in the autonomous vehicle industry, with Uber planning to deploy over 20,000 modified Lucid Gravity electric SUVs equipped with Nuro’s self-driving technology.
- As Uber aims to launch its robotaxi service in a major U.S. city as early as 2026-2027, the company is tapping into the advancements in technology, particularly in the autonomous finance sector, by investing $300 million in Lucid and an undisclosed amount in Nuro.
- The alliance between Uber, Lucid, and Nuro represents a strategic move for the automotive sector, with the deployment of a large-scale, premium robotaxi network, aiming to leverage technology for cost efficiency, safety, and scalability.
