Uber and Lucid Launch Robotaxi Fleet to Rival Waymo and Tesla

TLDR

Table of Contents

Uber partners with Lucid and Nuro to launch a robotaxi service using 20,000 Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with Nuro’s self-driving software
Uber will invest $300 million in Lucid and hundreds of millions in Nuro as part of the deal
The service is expected to launch next year in a major US city, with full deployment over six years starting in 2026
Lucid shares surged over 56% in pre-market trading following the announcement
The partnership puts Uber in direct competition with Waymo and Tesla’s robotaxi services

Uber announced a partnership with electric vehicle maker Lucid and autonomous technology company Nuro to launch a new robotaxi service. The companies revealed their collaboration on Thursday morning, marking Uber’s latest entry into the competitive autonomous vehicle market.

Lucid’s premium EVs. @nuro's proven L4 autonomy. @Uber's global ride-hailing network.
Together, we're launching a next-gen robotaxi fleet — 20K+ vehicles, starting in 2026.
Read more about today’s announcement here: https://t.co/f7yAyyyt7j pic.twitter.com/bwspjdh1mr
— Lucid Motors (@LucidMotors) July 17, 2025

The partnership centers around the Lucid Gravity SUV, which will be equipped with Nuro’s Level 4 autonomous driving software. Uber plans to deploy more than 20,000 of these vehicles through its platform and fleet management systems over the next six years.

As part of the agreement, Uber will invest $300 million in Lucid and hundreds of millions of dollars in Nuro. The investment represents a major financial commitment to the robotaxi space from the ride-sharing giant.

The service is expected to launch next year in a major US city, though the companies have not specified which location. A prototype of the Lucid-Nuro robotaxi is already being tested at Nuro’s Las Vegas proving grounds, operating autonomously on a closed circuit.

Lucid shares surged more than 56% to $3.58 in pre-market trading following the announcement. The company also proposed a one-for-ten reverse stock split of its class A common stock.

Competition in the Robotaxi Market

The Uber-Lucid-Nuro partnership enters a crowded field of autonomous vehicle competitors. Waymo currently leads the space as the only true operator, running services in several US cities with about 1,500 vehicles and crossing 100 million miles of autonomous driving this month.

Tesla recently expanded its robotaxi testing in Austin and plans to expand to the San Francisco Bay Area, though reports suggest permit applications have not been submitted. The company started a restricted trial with about a dozen Model Y SUVs in Austin last month.

Other players include Amazon’s Zoox, which is testing a robotaxi without manual controls and plans to launch commercial services in Las Vegas this year. General Motors’ Cruise was forced to shut down after federal investigations and regulatory challenges.

Uber previously operated its own robotaxi division but ended those efforts in 2020 following a high-profile accident in Tempe, Arizona in 2018. Since then, the company has focused on partnerships with technology developers, including existing agreements with Waymo and Aurora.

Partnership Details and Background

The Lucid EVs will be owned and operated by Uber or its third-party fleet partners. Lucid interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said the partnership validates the company’s technology platform as ideal for autonomous vehicles.

Nuro, co-founded by former Waymo engineers, has expanded from making last-mile delivery vehicles to providing self-driving technology for commercial and passenger vehicles. The company’s president Dave Ferguson indicated they have other active conversations for integrating their technology into consumer vehicles.

The partnership also involves Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which holds major stakes in both Uber and Lucid. The fund owns a $5.31 billion stake in Uber and a $4.29 billion stake in Lucid, making it the majority owner of the EV manufacturer.

Lucid announced strong second quarter deliveries with the new Gravity SUV arriving in showrooms. The company aims to deliver 20,000 Air sedans and Gravity SUVs in 2025, with the Uber orders helping meet that goal.

The deal follows Uber’s robotaxi agreement with Volkswagen in April, which will supply ID.Buzz vans for commercial service planned for Los Angeles next year. Nuro will still need to apply for state-level operating licenses, though it holds some licenses from previous delivery operations.

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