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Nuro & Uber Test Driverless Lucid Gravity SUVs
6 May
Summary
- Nuro received a permit for driverless testing of Lucid Gravity SUVs.
- Uber's premium robotaxi service will use these autonomous vehicles.
- Commercial robotaxi operations are expected to start by late 2026.
Nuro has secured a crucial permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to conduct driverless testing of Lucid Gravity SUVs. These advanced vehicles will eventually be integrated into Uber's premium robotaxi service. While the company has held driverless permits for six years, this new authorization specifically allows for testing the Lucid vehicles without a human safety operator. Nuro anticipates commencing these driverless trials later this year.
The path to public robotaxi service involves further regulatory approvals, including permits from the California Public Utilities Commission. Currently, Nuro and Uber are testing the Lucid vehicles with human safety operators onboard, a phase that recently expanded to include Uber employees. This progression is vital as Uber has increased its investment in Lucid, now committing $500 million and an order for a minimum of 35,000 robotaxis.
These robotaxis will be equipped with Nuro's autonomous vehicle system, powered by Nvidia's technology, and feature advanced sensors like lidar and radar. Lucid has delivered 75 engineering vehicles for ongoing testing across the U.S. Commercial robotaxi operations are projected to launch by late 2026, contingent on all necessary regulatory clearances being obtained.
