Uber, Lucid, and Nuro Unveil Production-Ready Robotaxi at CES 2026
Uber, Lucid Motors, and autonomous vehicle startup Nuro showcased the production-intent version of their collaborative robotaxi at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). TechCrunch obtained an exclusive preview ahead of the official reveal.
The project, in development for over six months, is part of a strategic partnership in which Uber invested $300 million into Lucid and committed to purchasing 20,000 Lucid electric vehicles (EVs). During Monday’s announcement, the companies confirmed that the robotaxi is already undergoing public road tests, with commercial service expected to launch in the San Francisco Bay Area later this year.
Advanced Technology Integrated into the Lucid Gravity
The robotaxi is based on the Lucid Gravity SUV, featuring high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar sensors, and radar units seamlessly integrated into both the vehicle body and the roof-mounted “halo.” Its autonomous driving system runs on Nvidia’s Drive AGX Thor computer.
The halo also incorporates LED lighting to help passengers identify the vehicle, functioning similarly to Waymo’s Jaguar I-Pace SUVs.
A key advantage of this collaboration is that all the advanced technology is installed directly during manufacturing at Lucid Motors’ Casa Grande, Arizona factory, saving both time and costs. In contrast, Waymo currently retrofits its Jaguar I-Pace vehicles, disassembling them to integrate autonomous hardware before reassembling them. (Future Waymo models are expected to be purpose-built for autonomy.)
A Refined User Interface for Riders
The CES reveal highlighted updates to the robotaxi’s user interface (UI). A small screen on the halo greets passengers, while an interior screen provides real-time ride information.
The rear passenger display offers an isometric view of the vehicle navigating city streets, including nearby cars and pedestrians—reminiscent of Waymo’s interface. Although Uber has not released an interactive version yet, the system will display estimated drop-off time, remaining ride duration, climate and music controls, and buttons for rider support or to request a pull-over.
The front passenger screen mirrors much of this information on a larger, 34-inch curved OLED display situated behind the steering wheel in the demonstration vehicle at the Fontainebleau hotel.
Choosing the Gravity for a Premium Experience
Uber selected the Lucid Gravity as the foundation for its premium robotaxi service. The SUV’s spacious interior, particularly in the two-row configuration, offers comfort for passengers. A three-row version will also be available.
The Gravity’s launch year was not without challenges. Lucid faced software issues during initial production, prompting interim CEO Marc Winterhoff to issue an apology in December for the “frustrations” experienced by early owners.
However, Lucid appears to have recovered. The company recently doubled its 2024 production figures and achieved new sales records. Whether the robotaxi variant will face similar software hurdles remains to be seen.
Production and Next Steps
Uber, Lucid, and Nuro confirmed that once final validation is completed later this year, full production robotaxis will begin rolling off Lucid’s factory lines in Arizona. No exact production timeline was disclosed.
This collaboration represents a significant step in autonomous mobility, combining Uber’s ride-hailing expertise, Lucid’s premium EV technology, and Nuro’s robotics experience to bring a commercial robotaxi to the streets of San Francisco.
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