Autonomous vehicles are shifting into high gear. On Thursday, Uber announced a bold new initiative to deploy more than 20,000 fully autonomous vehicles in dozens of markets worldwide, beginning in 2026. This ambitious plan comes as part of a partnership with two U.S.-based companies: Lucid Motors and Nuro.
A Gradual Rollout with a Long-Term Vision
Uber clarified that the deployment will be gradual, aiming for full completion by 2032. These vehicles will be fully owned and operated by Uber, and users will be able to request them via the standard Uber app.
The rollout will start in an undisclosed U.S. city in 2026, but the groundwork has already begun. A prototype integrating Nuro’s autonomous technology with Lucid’s hardware is currently being tested at Nuro’s facilities in Las Vegas.
The Vehicles: Luxury Meets Innovation
The 20,000 self-driving cars will be delivered by Lucid Motors, a luxury electric vehicle manufacturer. The selected model is the Lucid Gravity, a high-end seven-seater SUV. With a range of 724 kilometers (450 miles) and the ability to charge 320 km (200 miles) in just 11 minutes, this SUV brings together performance, range, and practicality. Its base price starts at $79,900, excluding taxes.
But what truly makes these cars autonomous is their brain — the Nuro Driver system.
Nuro Driver: The Mind Behind the Machine
Nuro, a startup specializing in autonomous vehicle technology, will equip the Lucid Gravity with its Level 4 autonomous driving system. This software is capable of full self-driving in most conditions without human input. With a roof-mounted hardware rig of sensors and cameras, Nuro Driver enables the vehicle to navigate safely and efficiently on public roads.
In addition to purchasing vehicles and software, Uber is making a multi-hundred-million-dollar investment in both Lucid and Nuro. According to Bloomberg, this includes $300 million for Lucid to upgrade its production line to integrate Nuro’s technology directly into the manufacturing process. Although Nuro is not publicly traded, news of the partnership sent Lucid’s stock up over 30% at the opening of the trading session.
Strategic Shift Towards Collaboration
This announcement adds to a growing list of strategic partnerships Uber has forged in the autonomous vehicle space. Just this week, Uber revealed a separate agreement with Chinese tech giant Baidu to deploy thousands of its Apollo Go autonomous vehicles across markets outside the U.S. and China, beginning in Asia and the Middle East later this year.
Under CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber has pivoted from developing its own in-house self-driving technology—an approach championed by former CEO Travis Kalanick—to investing in and collaborating with external players.
Challenges Ahead: Regulation, Trust, and Jobs
Despite rapid technological progress, legislation continues to lag behind. In April, former U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to streamline and unify federal regulations around autonomous driving. Meanwhile, in Spain, the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) recently launched a program to evaluate the safety of autonomous vehicles to ensure their safe, transparent, and responsible deployment.
Beyond regulation, public trust remains a significant hurdle. Questions still loom over how society will handle accidents, liability, and even the ethics of decision-making algorithms.
There’s also the looming employment impact. As driverless cars become a reality, industries like transportation and delivery may face widespread disruptions, sparking debates about job displacement and the need for new workforce strategies.
The Competition Heats Up
Uber isn’t alone in this race. Tesla recently introduced its Cybercab robotaxi, with initial trials already underway in Austin, Texas. As companies compete to lead the autonomous mobility revolution, the pressure to innovate—and scale—is greater than ever.
What was once a concept from science fiction is quickly becoming our new reality. With Uber, Lucid, and Nuro now steering the wheel, the journey toward a driverless future is not just coming—it’s accelerating.