Uber Invests in Lucid and Nuro for Premium Robotaxi Service
Uber is putting hundreds of millions of dollars into Lucid and Nuro to develop a high-end robotaxi service. The investment includes $300 million in Lucid and an undisclosed amount in Nuro. The plan is to launch the robotaxi service in a major U.S. city next year, using modified Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with Nuro's autonomous vehicle system.
Uber is investing $300 million in Lucid and buying at least 20,000 of the EV maker's new Gravity SUV over the next six years. These vehicles will be equipped with Nuro's autonomous vehicle system and operated by Uber or its fleet partners. Uber plans to launch a robotaxi service in a major U.S. city next year.
Production of the modified Lucid Gravity vehicles is set to start in late 2026. Uber is also investing a multi-hundred-million dollar amount in Nuro, more than its investment in Lucid.
The agreement between the companies took a year to finalize. Nuro co-founder Dave Ferguson stated that Uber chose them as a partner for their robotaxi program after evaluating various AV companies.
Engineers at Lucid and Nuro have been testing a prototype driverless vehicle in Las Vegas. The Nuro-equipped Gravity vehicles will be Level 4 automated driving systems.
Uber has been forming partnerships with autonomous vehicle technology companies globally. The deal with Nuro and Lucid showcases Uber's significant investment in the autonomous vehicle market.
This partnership is a validation for Nuro, which has shifted its focus to licensing its AV technology to automakers and mobility providers. The deal with Uber signifies the success of Nuro's strategic pivot.
According to the source: TechCrunch.
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