The companies plan to launch 20,000 robotaxis in the US over the next six years. Uber has announced a major leap into autonomous transportat...
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| The companies plan to launch 20,000 robotaxis in the US over the next six years. |
The rollout will begin in late 2026 in major U.S. cities, with pilot programs already underway in Austin and Phoenix. Uber will act as the mobility platform, integrating these robotaxis into its app alongside traditional rideshare options. The move brings Uber back into the autonomy race after its 2020 exit, when it sold its self-driving unit to Aurora.
The autonomous vehicles are being designed to operate without human intervention, relying on Nuro’s AI-driven sensor fusion system, which combines LiDAR, radar, and computer vision. The vehicles will also utilize Nvidia’s DRIVE Thor platform to process real-time road data and make complex navigation decisions.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi emphasized that the company is focused on augmenting—not replacing—human drivers. “Autonomy helps us serve more riders, especially during peak hours or in underserved areas, while also creating new kinds of jobs around fleet management and maintenance,” he said. The deal gives Uber an equity stake in Nuro and board influence in future software development. Lucid, known for its premium electric sedans, is using this deal to expand its manufacturing pipeline and diversify its revenue streams beyond retail EV sales.
This partnership sets up a new axis in the driverless car race, competing directly with Waymo, Cruise, and Tesla's upcoming Cybercab. Unlike those companies, Uber is choosing to stay lean by integrating third-party technology rather than building everything in-house. Regulatory frameworks will be key. Currently, Uber is lobbying city and state officials to support autonomous vehicle zones and shared EV infrastructure. Pilot zones will have safety supervisors on board initially, transitioning to full autonomy after certification.
This initiative marks a major step toward Uber’s long-term goal of building a hybrid mobility ecosystem where human drivers and autonomous fleets coexist. The next phase of urban mobility, it seems, is just around the corner—and Uber wants to be the app that gets you there.
