Uber has announced plans to introduce autonomous taxi rides in the San Francisco Bay Area, marking the city as the first market for its specially designed robotaxi. The launch is scheduled for late 2026. This development follows Uber’s collaboration with electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors and self-driving technology firm Nuro Inc., aiming to integrate advanced autonomous driving capabilities into their fleet.
The vehicle, which is based on the Lucid Gravity SUV, is exclusive to Uber. Recently, Lucid delivered test vehicles to Nuro, paving the way for extensive testing. Uber intends to deploy 100 test vehicles on the roads in the coming months, with a long-term goal of introducing over 20,000 autonomous taxis in various locations within six years. Riders will access these vehicles through the Uber app.
Collaborations to Accelerate Development
In a bid to expedite the rollout of autonomous taxi services, Uber is forming partnerships with several companies. Notably, on Tuesday, the company announced its collaboration with tech giant Nvidia and automaker Stellantis. Stellantis anticipates beginning production of at least 5,000 vehicles equipped with Nvidia’s software for autonomous taxi operations in the United States by 2028.
Additionally, Uber has recently commenced offering autonomous taxi rides in Saudi Arabia, collaborating with the Chinese autonomous technology company WeRide. This expansion highlights Uber’s commitment to integrating autonomous vehicles into its global operations.
Industry Landscape and Competition
While autonomous taxis are not a novel concept, Uber’s large-scale adoption is noteworthy, given its status as the world’s largest ride-hailing service. Operating in 15,000 cities across more than 70 countries, Uber’s entry into the autonomous vehicle market could significantly impact the industry.
Competitors such as Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., have been testing autonomous taxis for years. Currently, Waymo’s services are available in cities including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Austin. Recently, Waymo announced plans to expand its operations to London in 2024. Additionally, Uber is collaborating with Waymo on autonomous taxi initiatives in Austin, showcasing the competitive landscape in this rapidly evolving sector.
As Uber gears up for its autonomous taxi launch in San Francisco, industry observers will be keenly watching how these developments unfold, potentially reshaping urban transportation in the years to come.
