Uber's Robotaxi Gamble: 20,000 Self-Driving Cars To Hit U.S. Cities By 2026

(MENAFN- The Rio Times) Uber has confirmed a major move into self-driving taxis through a partnership with Lucid Motors and Nuro.

The plan, announced on July 17, 2025, involves deploying 20,000 electric Lucid Gravity SUVs fitted with Nuro's self-driving technology on the Uber platform across major U.S. cities starting in 2026.

Uber will invest at least $300 million in Lucid and more in Nuro. Lucid will use these funds to boost production of the Gravity SUV, its main vehicle for this project.

Lucid reported it built 3,863 vehicles and delivered 3,309 in the second quarter of 2025, working toward a goal of producing 20,000 cars this year. The Gravity costs about $80,000, highlighting the project's premium approach.

Nuro provides the robotaxi's“brain”-a package of cameras, radar, and lidar that allows safe self-driving on city streets. Nuro's technology is already being tested at a closed facility in Las Vegas.



Uber previously worked with Nuro on food delivery robots, and now extends that trust to rideshare. Uber turned to this partnership after its own self-driving project became too difficult and expensive.

By joining forces with experts, it hopes to speed up getting robotaxis on the road and control costs. Competition for robotaxis is heating up. Tesla launched its own driverless taxis in Austin this June and wants to take them to other cities soon.

Research firm Frost & Sullivan estimates the U.S. robotaxi market could reach $36.5 billion by 2035 if it keeps growing rapidly. If Uber's plan succeeds, it could reduce costs, cut out much of the need for drivers, and meet passenger demand better than competitors.

Lucid secures a large customer, while its production line gets a boost. Nuro gets a chance to prove its software can safely drive on busy city streets.

This partnership marks a turning point for Uber , moving away from building its own tech and instead relying on strong manufacturing and safer, proven automation.

For riders, Uber's bet could mean the chance to take a completely driverless trip in a brand new electric vehicle within just a year or two. The real question is how quickly cities, regulators, and riders are ready for robotaxis to become normal.

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