Uber to deploy 20,000 Lucid Gravity robotaxis equipped with Nuro Driver, beginning next year [Video]

Lucid Gravity Robotaxis? Yes, please! Uber Technologies, Lucid Group, and Nuro, Inc. announced an exciting new partnership this morning. The three will combine technologies to deliver the public a premium global robotaxi option on Uber’s platform. We should see the Lucid robotaxis roll out in their first major city next year.

Each of the three companies involved in today’s agreement announcement has carved its own path in the advanced mobility industry using exciting new forms of technology. If you’re a reader at Electrek, Lucid Motors should be ingrained in your brain as a leader in EV efficiency, which only now appears to be starting to hit a stride in scaling production with recently resumed deliveries of its second flagship model, the Gravity SUV.

Nuro, Inc. is a robotics company that has made huge strides in Level 4 autonomous vehicles. While Nuro focuses more on zero-occupant delivery vehicles, its AI-enabled Nuro Driver system has continued to evolve and expand, especially through Nuro’s partnership with Uber Eats.

Lastly, Uber Technologies is a household name in the rideshare business. It consistently adapts its services to provide its users with safe and time-saving mobility options, from rides to deliveries and even bike rentals. Uber has established numerous partnerships with OEMs and technology leaders worldwide, and now adds Lucid Group to its Rolodex.

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Uber to invest $300 million in Lucid, through agreement

Uber Technologies appears to be adapting the strategy of partnering with just about anyone in the tech industry with viable AI and/or autonomous driving technology. Earlier this year, the rideshare specialist announced partnerships with May Mobility in Texas and Momenta in Europe to enable driverless robotaxi rides in certain regions.

With Nuro already an established partner in the last-mile delivery side of its business, there is perhaps no bigger name for a new partnership right now than Lucid Group. Lucid shared details of its new three-way partnership early this morning, sharing plans to combine its Lucid Gravity BEVs with the proven scalable Nuro Driver autonomy system across Uber’s existing global network of service and fleet management capabilities to offer the public an entirely new “fully-integrated robotaxi experience.”

As part of the agreement, Uber has agreed to invest $300 million in Lucid Group and a hefty amount in Nuro, the amount of which is unknown at this time. In return, Uber intends to deploy 20,000 (or more) Lucid vehicles equipped with the Nuro Driver Level 4 autonomous system over the next six years.

These robotaxi vehicles, which will be entirely Lucid Gravity SUVs to begin with, will be operated and maintained by Uber and its third-party partner and available exclusively on the Uber app. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi elaborated:

Autonomous vehicles have enormous potential to transform our cities for the better. We’re thrilled to partner with Nuro and Lucid on this new robotaxi program, purpose-built just for the Uber platform, to safely bring the magic of autonomous driving to more people across the world.

According to the companies, the first Nuro Driver-equipped Lucid Gravity prototype is already completing fully autonomous operations on a closed circuit at Nuro’s proving grounds in Las Vegas. You can see it in action in the video below.

We asked Lucid if the Uber robotaxi fleet will also include Air sedans. We were told it will be Gravity SUVs to start, with the option to “consider future vehicles” (ahem, Mid-Size) as they become available. Uber said the 20,000 planned Lucid robotaxis will roll out in dozens of global markets over the next six years, beginning in a major US city in 2026.

Based on the locations of these three companies and the current cities that allow fully autonomous robotaxi rides, we’d expect the Lucid Gravity fleet to begin operations in San Francisco, Las Vegas, or Austin, but that is merely an educated guess. No company has confirmed such plans yet. For now, you can enjoy the following video of the Level 4 autonomous Gravity in action.