Lucid, Nuro and Saudi-backed Uber start their robotaxi ahead of launch in late 2026
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-backed Lucid Group, Nuro and Uber unveiled a production-oriented robot to be used in their global robotics operation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, which kicked off in Las Vegas on Monday.
In a company statement, they called it “the most luxurious robot in the industry, offering passengers an unprecedented experience in the cabin”.
The companies also announced that independent road testing began last month, an important milestone in the development and validation of the robot service ahead of an expected launch in the San Francisco Bay Area later this year. Nuro led experiments using robotaxi engineering prototypes monitored by autonomous vehicle operators.
Lucid is advancing the motion technology of the future
Production of the robot is expected to begin later this year at Lucid’s factory in Arizona, pending final confirmation. Lucid also has a manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia, but that will not be used at this time.
The vehicle is based on Lucid’s Gravity electric SUV and features a roof-mounted ‘halo’ sensor, a low-profile module designed to maximize visibility while preserving the vehicle’s signature design. It combines cameras, lidar and radar to provide a 360-degree view.
The integrated LEDs included in the Halo help passengers easily identify the correct vehicle (displaying boarding names), and provide clear status updates from pick-up to drop-off.
Kay Stepper, Vice President of ADAS and Autonomous at Lucid, said: “Our robotaxi program with Uber and Nuro is an important part of how Lucid is using its technology to create a sustainable and widely available future of mobility.
“Our engineering, spaciousness and interior comfort provide a unique platform, and when combined with Nuro’s technology and Uber’s scale, together we create an experience like no other.”
In-room feel and passenger controls
Uber has designed an in-cabin experience, including interactive screens that allow passengers to control the climate, seating and entertainment options, as well as communication support when needed.
Visualization in the car shows what the robot sees and its planned path in real time, including maneuvers such as yielding to pedestrians, slowing traffic lights, changing lanes, and dropping off a passenger.
The interior configuration is spacious and can accommodate six passengers with plenty of luggage space, making it ideal for group travel.
The robot uses an autonomous Nuro Level 4 system, capable of operating without human intervention under defined conditions, and runs on Nvidia’s DRIVE AGX Thor computing environment.
Dave Ferguson, founder and Co-CEO of Nuro, commented: “The launch of our robotaxi manufacturing mission with Lucid and Uber is a milestone in our journey to bring autonomy to scale.
“By combining Nuro’s proven level 4 autonomy, Lucid’s advanced automotive design, and Uber’s global reach, we are building a robotics service designed for real-world performance and long-term growth.”
The unveiling at the CES technology conference in Las Vegas puts the trio among a growing group of companies pursuing the deployment of giant robots in the US, alongside Alphabet’s Waymo and Elon Musk’s Tesla among others.
