Uber is increasing its robotaxi empire for the second time in as many weeks. The ridesharing large has began taxi check rides for workers within the San Francisco Bay Space, utilizing Lucid Gravity SUVs upgraded with Nuro’s autonomous automobile know-how.
The check nonetheless has a security driver readily available, however will let Uber employees hail self-driving automobiles by its app. They will assist validate the automobiles and the general experience in actual world settings. It will assist “refine the service” as Uber and companions get nearer to a industrial launch, in accordance with Nuro.
Partnership historical past
Public rides anticipated this yr
Credit score: Uber
Uber first unveiled its partnerships with Nuro and Lucid in July 2025, once they outlined plans to roll out 20,000 Gravity robotaxis beginning in 2026. The businesses revealed the “manufacturing intent” model of the modified Gravity this January, together with a roof-based sensor array with cameras, LiDAR, and radar. In-cabin screens assist passengers customise their journeys and see the robotaxi’s meant path.
Public rides are anticipated later in 2026, with service coming to “dozens” of markets worldwide within the subsequent six years.
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You possibly can hail robotaxis by Uber proper now
Waymo and different suppliers are already out there
Credit score: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek
You do not have to attend for Uber, Nuro, and Lucid to make their autonomous rides out there. You possibly can ask for Waymo rides by Uber’s app in Atlanta, Austin, and Phoenix. Avride offers service in Dallas, and vacationers in Saudi Arabia and the Center East can hop aboard WeRide automobiles.
Uber and VW’s mobility unit MOIA only recently mentioned they’d supply robotaxi service in Los Angeles by late 2026. In the long run, Uber is collaborating with manufacturers like Amazon’s Zoox, Motional, NVIDIA, and Rivian.
What the longer term might maintain
Nevertheless, the alliances with Nuro and Lucid ought to play a key position in Uber’s technique. Since Uber offered its in-house robotaxi division to Aurora Innovation in 2020, it has targeted on partnerships that may assist it turn into synonymous with self-driving rides. A fleet of 20,000 automobiles would signify a major enlargement at a time when Uber’s current protection remains to be restricted.
Rivian has additionally introduced a brand new partnership with Uber, which can see the latter make investments $1.25 billion by 2031 in direction of the event of totally self-driving automobiles.
Whereas this may result in some competitors with companions like Waymo, it is primarily meant to fend off extra direct competitors from Lyft and different ridesharing heavyweights which can be both establishing their very own team-ups or creating their very own applied sciences. Tesla, as an example, is providing restricted robotaxi service within the Austin space utilizing its personal platform.
