Uber Bets Big on Robotaxi Comeback
Uber is reentering the robotaxi market with a bold US$300 million investment in electric vehicle maker Lucid, signaling a strategic comeback to autonomous transportation. The partnership aims to launch services in a major U.S. city as early as late next year, deploying over 20,000 Lucid Gravity SUVs between 2026 and 2032. These vehicles will feature Level 4 autonomous technology developed by Nuro, a startup specializing in self-driving systems. The deal also includes significant additional investment in Nuro, strengthening Uber’s commitment to building alliances rather than developing autonomous systems in-house. Lucid’s shares surged over 26% following the announcement, partially offsetting earlier losses this year. This marks a significant shift for Uber, which exited its own AV development program in 2020 but has since forged partnerships with Waymo, Aurora, and Volkswagen to keep its driverless ambitions alive.
Partnerships Drive Future of Self-Driving
The Lucid-Nuro collaboration follows Uber’s April agreement with Volkswagen to introduce ID.Buzz vans for a commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles. While the promise of self-driving technology has long been hyped, turning it into a viable business has proven far more difficult. High operating costs, strict regulatory requirements, and ongoing federal investigations have caused several players, including General Motors’ Cruise, to halt or scale back their programs. Uber’s latest move demonstrates a belief that partnerships may accelerate deployment by combining strengths from automakers and tech innovators. Nuro, originally focused on last-mile delivery robots, has now expanded its scope to commercial passenger vehicles. This evolution positions it as a key enabler in the broader AV ecosystem, where technology integration and scalability are critical for market success.
Lucid and Nuro Eye Long-Term Growth
Lucid’s interim CEO, Marc Winterhoff, emphasized the company’s push beyond its established EV manufacturing expertise into new technology-driven ventures. By working with partners like Uber and Nuro, Lucid seeks to diversify its portfolio and enter the growing autonomous mobility sector. Nuro, co-founded by ex-Waymo engineers, is also in discussions to integrate its driverless systems into consumer vehicles, which could open entirely new markets. However, before scaling operations, the company must navigate state-level licensing requirements, despite already holding permits from its previous delivery services. For Uber, this investment is not just about launching another robotaxi program—it’s about shaping the future of urban mobility through strategic alliances that blend cutting-edge EV manufacturing with advanced autonomous driving capabilities.
