SAN FRANCISCO, July 17, 2025 — In a major move toward an autonomous future, Uber has announced a groundbreaking partnership with electric vehicle maker Lucid and autonomous driving startup Nuro to deploy over 20,000 robotaxis across the U.S. in the next six years.
The initiative, backed by a $300 million investment from Uber into Lucid, marks a significant expansion of Uber’s autonomous vehicle ambitions. Nuro will provide the Level 4 self-driving technology, capable of fully autonomous operation in standard traffic and weather conditions without human intervention.
Key Details:
- Vehicle Supplier: Lucid will design and produce custom electric robotaxis, starting with its Gravity SUV platform, known for its 450-mile range.
- Autonomy Partner: Nuro, backed by Google and SoftBank, will provide the autonomous driving software and manage ongoing system updates.
- Deployment Plan: The robotaxis will begin operation in a major U.S. urban area in 2026, with additional rollouts planned nationwide.
- Lucid Stock Reaction: Shares of Lucid (NASDAQ: LCID) surged 30% following the announcement.
- Uber Stock: Marginal gains were reported for Uber (NYSE: UBER).
“This is a blueprint for a robotaxi program that’s both commercially viable and globally scalable,” said Nuro in a press release.
Lucid interim CEO Marc Winterhoff called it an “opportunity to tap into an entirely new market,” beyond traditional consumer EVs. He noted that Lucid’s long-range capabilities would reduce both charging downtime and operating costs — key elements for autonomous ride-hailing fleets.
Broader Context
This partnership complements Uber’s existing alliance with Waymo, which expanded robotaxi service to Atlanta and Austin earlier this year. Unlike Tesla, whose current Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems require driver oversight (Level 2 autonomy), Uber’s new venture aims for Level 4 autonomy, where no driver is required.
Testing of the first prototype is underway at Nuro’s Las Vegas proving grounds, with Lucid expected to integrate newer vehicle platforms into the program as development continues.
“This program represents the future of mobility — clean, scalable, and driverless,” said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.