Daniel Mercer
Recently, Uber-backed Nuro has successfully acquired an updated permit to conduct tests of its Lucid Gravity robotaxis on the streets of California, as indicated by recent DMV documents. This crucial development aligns with Uber’s ambitious strategy to deploy a total of 100,000 driverless vehicles across the United States, which includes plans for up to 35,000 vehicles utilizing Nuro’s cutting-edge self-driving technology. A spokesperson from the company stated that they anticipate initiating fully-autonomous testing by the end of this year, as reported by TechCrunch.
Nuro, which has received significant backing from industry giants like NVIDIA, Toyota, and Uber, has emerged as a formidable player within the robotaxi and autonomous vehicle landscape. The company has already secured a California DMV permit specifically for driverless deliveries using its R3 Nuro Robot vehicle. At the prestigious CES 2026 event held in January, Nuro, in collaboration with Uber, unveiled their innovative robotaxi design based on the three-row Lucid Gravity electric crossover. This vehicle is set to incorporate an advanced, multi-faceted sensor system comprising high-resolution cameras, lidar sensors, and radar, alongside a roof-mounted LED display. The interior design promises to deliver luxury features, including rider-controlled heated seats.
Up until now, Uber and Nuro have primarily operated the Lucid Gravity EVs in autonomous mode, always accompanied by a human safety driver, and have limited their rides exclusively to Uber employees. However, the new permit granted to them will enable the companies to conduct tests without human operators at speeds reaching up to 45 mph, both during the day and at night, specifically in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Additionally, Nuro has been conducting tests of its Lucid robotaxis in Tokyo, utilizing human drivers as a safety backup.
As part of its latest earnings release, Lucid announced plans to officially launch the robotaxi service “later this year.” In a significant financial update, the EV manufacturer disclosed that Uber has increased its investment in the company to an impressive $500 million and has raised its order from 20,000 to 35,000 vehicles. Before the commencement of commercial services, both Nuro and Uber will need to secure necessary permits for ride-hailing operations as well as a DMV deployment permit.
