Uber to Invest $300 Million in Lucid for Robotaxi Launch in US
Uber will invest $300 million in electric vehicle maker Lucid as part of a new robotaxi deal set to launch in a major US city by late 2026. The partnership also involves Nuro, a startup that supplies autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, aiming to introduce over 20,000 self-driving Lucid Gravity SUVs in the coming years.
Large-Scale Deployment of Self-Driving SUVs
From 2026, Uber plans to deploy more than 20,000 Lucid Gravity SUVs fitted with Nuro’s AV systems over six years. This move marks a renewed effort to expand in the self-driving taxi market, after earlier setbacks in the industry. The agreement reflects a growing trend of companies investing heavily to revive robotaxi plans. While Tesla has recently launched a robotaxi trial in Austin, and Alphabet’s Waymo is expanding services, challenges like high costs and strict regulations remain common.
Uber’s investment in Lucid will total $300 million, confirmed in Lucid’s recent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Uber will also invest in Nuro as part of the deal, although exact figures for this portion remain undisclosed.
Uber’s Strategy Shift Towards Partnerships
This deal highlights Uber’s strategic shift towards partnerships after it left direct autonomous vehicle development in 2020. Since then, Uber has collaborated with several tech firms, including Waymo and Aurora. The new partnership with Lucid comes soon after Uber’s April 2025 agreement with Volkswagen, which will see ID.Buzz vans serving Los Angeles customers from next year.
Although the robotaxi sector faces challenges like regulatory hurdles and high development costs, several players continue to push forward. Amazon-owned Zoox is testing driverless vehicles in Las Vegas, and Tesla has begun a limited robotaxi trial in Austin. Waymo now operates in multiple cities with a fleet of around 1,500 vehicles and recently passed 100 million miles of autonomous driving.
Prototype Already in Testing
A Lucid-Nuro robotaxi prototype is already undergoing autonomous testing at Nuro’s Las Vegas facility. Lucid’s interim CEO, Marc Winterhoff, said the company is expanding beyond its core electric vehicle production, moving into partnerships and autonomous technologies. Meanwhile, Nuro aims to integrate its AV technology into both commercial and personal vehicles. However, it will need to secure additional state-level operating licences for robotaxi operations, despite holding some existing licences from its earlier delivery services.
with inputs from Reuters