Uber has initiated employee test rides of its self-driving taxi service in the San Francisco Bay Area, utilizing upgraded Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with Nuro's autonomous technology. While these test rides still require a safety driver, Uber employees can now request rides through the app, contributing to the validation of the robotaxis in real-world conditions.
In July 2025, Uber announced its collaboration with Nuro and Lucid, detailing plans to launch 20,000 robotaxis by 2026. The modified Gravity vehicles, revealed in January 2026, include advanced features such as a roof-mounted sensor array, cameras, and in-cabin screens that allow passengers to customize their experiences. Public rides are anticipated to commence in 2026, expanding to numerous global markets over the next six years.
Additionally, Uber is working with partners like Amazon's Zoox, Motional, NVIDIA, and Rivian to advance its self-driving ambitions. Uber's strategy has shifted since selling its internal robotaxi division in 2020, focusing now on partnerships that enhance its presence in the autonomous ride sector. A significant investment of $1.25 billion into Rivian is set to support the development of fully self-driving vehicles by 2031.