Uber has announced a groundbreaking six-year partnership aimed at transforming urban transportation with the deployment of over 20,000 robotaxis. In a $300 million investment, the ride-hailing giant is joining forces with electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid and autonomous driving technology startup Nuro to bring self-driving cars to major U.S. cities starting next year.
Under the agreement, Lucid will provide the electric vehicles, while Nuro will develop the Level 4 autonomous driving systems capable of operating without human intervention in most traffic and weather conditions. The first wave of robotaxis is expected to launch in a major U.S. metropolitan area in 2026, with testing already underway on a closed course in Las Vegas.
Uber’s CEO expressed enthusiasm over the collaboration, calling it a significant step toward expanding access to autonomous transportation on the Uber platform. The robotaxi program, according to Uber, is designed specifically for its ecosystem, aiming to deliver safe, convenient, and driverless rides to more users across the country.
Lucid’s interim CEO described the partnership as a major strategic leap into a new market segment, noting the potential to leverage the company’s EV leadership and 450-mile range Gravity vehicles to increase efficiency and lower operational costs. Lucid also hinted that future vehicle models currently in development could be integrated into the program as it scales.
The deal marks another bold move in the rapidly evolving autonomous vehicle sector. Nuro, which is backed by tech and investment giants including Google and SoftBank, secured $106 million in new funding earlier this year and is positioning its self-driving systems as a blueprint for globally scalable robotaxi fleets.
This isn’t Uber’s first foray into autonomous vehicles. Earlier partnerships with Alphabet-backed Waymo have already led to robotaxi services expanding to cities like Atlanta and Austin, Texas. However, this new collaboration brings fresh momentum and a focused vision for a dedicated, commercial-scale rollout.
