Lucid, Nuro and Uber Unveil Production-Ready Robotaxi at CES 2026
Lucid Group, Nuro and Uber unveiled their production-intent robotaxi at CES 2026 on January 5, with on-road testing already underway since December. The vehicle, based on Lucid's Gravity electric SUV, features advanced sensor technology and Nuro's Level 4 autonomous system, targeting a commercial launch in the San Francisco Bay Area later this year. Production is expected to begin at Lucid's Arizona factory following final validation.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Lucid Group, Nuro and Uber unveiled a production-intent robotaxi on Monday, January 5, at the CES technology conference in Las Vegas, representing a major milestone toward commercial deployment for the autonomous vehicle partnership. The announcement positions the trio among a growing group of companies pursuing large-scale robotaxi deployment in the United States, competing alongside established players like Alphabet's Waymo and Tesla.
Testing and Development Progress
The companies initiated on-road testing in December using engineering prototypes supervised by safety operators, led by Nuro. This testing phase marks a crucial step toward the planned robotaxi launch in the San Francisco Bay Area later this year.
| Development Phase: | Details |
|---|---|
| Testing Start: | December |
| Testing Method: | Engineering prototypes with safety operators |
| Launch Location: | San Francisco Bay Area |
| Production Start: | Later this year |
| Manufacturing Site: | Lucid's Arizona factory |
The comprehensive testing program combines multiple validation approaches including real-world driving, closed-course testing, and simulation to ensure safety standards before commercial deployment.
Technical Specifications and Design
The robotaxi is built on Lucid's Gravity electric SUV platform and incorporates advanced autonomous driving technology. The vehicle features a distinctive roof-mounted sensor "halo" that integrates cameras, lidar, and radar systems to provide complete 360-degree perception capabilities.
| Technical Component: | Specification |
|---|---|
| Base Platform: | Lucid Gravity electric SUV |
| Autonomous System: | Nuro's Level 4 technology |
| Computing Platform: | Nvidia's DRIVE AGX Thor |
| Sensor Array: | Roof-mounted cameras, lidar, radar |
| Perception Range: | 360-degree coverage |
Uber designed the in-cabin experience, incorporating interactive screens that allow passengers to control climate settings, seating adjustments, and entertainment options, while also providing direct access to customer support when needed.
Strategic Positioning and Market Context
For Uber, this partnership aligns with its strategic repositioning as a platform partner for autonomous vehicle developers following the sale of its self-driving unit to Aurora Innovation in 2020. The company has pursued multiple partnerships to integrate robotaxis onto its platform rather than developing the technology internally.
Lucid views this project as an opportunity to diversify beyond consumer electric vehicles amid challenges including slowing demand in the US EV market, significant cash expenditure, and intensifying competition. The company reported 2025 deliveries slightly above estimates earlier in the day, though production continues to outpace sales.
Production Timeline
Production of the robotaxi is scheduled to begin later this year at Lucid's Arizona manufacturing facility, pending final validation of the testing program. The Nuro Level 4 autonomous system enables operation without human intervention under defined conditions, powered by Nvidia's DRIVE AGX Thor computing platform.
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