Uber and Nuro Launch Premium Robotaxi Service in San Francisco

Uber and Nuro have started testing a premium robotaxi service in San Francisco, marking a significant milestone in their partnership. This service offers select employees a chance to ride in a self-driving Lucid Gravity SUV, equipped with Nuro's autonomous vehicle system.

The Lucid Gravity Robotaxi: A Breakthrough in Autonomous Technology

The Lucid Gravity robotaxi is a modified version of the Lucid Gravity SUV, outfitted with high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar sensors, and radars. These sensors help the self-driving system perceive the real-world environment and operate in it safely. The vehicle is powered by Nvidia's Drive AGX Thor computer, making it a cutting-edge example of autonomous technology.

• The Lucid Gravity SUVs are equipped with Nuro's autonomous vehicle system, which has undergone extensive testing and validation.
• Production of these modified vehicles is expected to begin in late 2026, with Uber planning to own and operate the premium robotaxi service.
• Nuro has 100 Lucid Gravity SUVs outfitted with its self-driving system in the engineering fleet, used to gather real-world data and test autonomous driving across multiple U.S. cities and states.

Uber invested $300 million in Lucid and separately agreed to buy “at least” 20,000 of the EV maker’s new Gravity SUV over the next six years.

Testing and Evaluation

According to Nuro, the employee test rides help the team evaluate how the autonomy stack, vehicle, and rider experience work together and function in a live operating environment. It also allows the team to test how well the vehicle handles rider pickups and dropoffs, a notoriously tricky operation in autonomous ride-hailing.

Kirsten Korosec is a seasoned journalist with a focus on transportation and emerging technologies. She has a deep understanding of the complex issues surrounding autonomous vehicles and their potential to revolutionize the way we travel.