Uber Sets San Francisco as First Market for New Autonomous Taxi Fleet

Uber Technologies Inc. plans to introduce autonomous taxi rides in the San Francisco Bay Area beginning next year, launching what the company describes as the first large-scale deployment of a vehicle it has developed in partnership with Lucid Group and Nuro Inc. The ride-hailing company said the specially designed robotaxi, based on Lucid’s forthcoming Gravity sport-utility vehicle, is slated to enter commercial service in late 2026. Test operations will begin sooner, making San Francisco the inaugural market for the program.

The initiative is part of Uber’s ongoing strategy to integrate self-driving technology into its global platform. In July, the company confirmed it was working with electric-vehicle manufacturer Lucid and autonomous-software specialist Nuro to create a vehicle exclusive to Uber. Lucid has since delivered initial prototypes to Nuro for system validation. Uber expects approximately 100 of those test units to operate on public roads in the coming months, gathering data and refining performance ahead of wider rollout.

Over a six-year horizon, Uber intends to deploy 20,000 or more of the Lucid-based taxis across multiple cities. Rides will be requested and paid for through the existing Uber app, mirroring the process riders use for conventional human-driven trips. The company said pricing details will be disclosed closer to launch but noted that its objective is to maintain fares competitive with—or lower than—today’s standard ride options.

In a separate announcement this week, Uber outlined additional collaborations designed to accelerate autonomous expansion. The company disclosed agreements with Nvidia Corp. and automaker Stellantis that call for production of at least 5,000 robotaxis powered by Nvidia’s autonomous-driving software beginning in 2028. Those vehicles are scheduled for assembly at Stellantis facilities and will operate in the United States.

Uber is simultaneously piloting autonomous service outside North America. Last week, the firm began offering self-driving rides in Saudi Arabia through a partnership with WeRide, a Chinese technology company specializing in Level 4 autonomy. The Saudi operation, which started in a limited geographic zone, represents Uber’s first commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles in the Middle East.

While driverless taxis are already on the road in several U.S. cities, Uber’s involvement carries additional weight because of its scale. The San Francisco-based platform currently operates in more than 15,000 cities across over 70 countries, completing millions of daily trips. By integrating autonomous vehicles, the company aims to increase fleet availability, reduce wait times and lower long-term operating costs.

Competition in the autonomous-ride market is intensifying. Waymo, owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc., has tested and deployed driverless taxis for years and now offers public service in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Austin. Earlier this month, Waymo confirmed plans to expand to London in 2026. Uber and Waymo are not working at cross-purposes everywhere: the two firms have a partnership covering Austin, where Waymo-operated vehicles can be booked directly through the Uber app.

Imagem: imagem internet 6

Regulatory oversight remains a key factor in determining how quickly robotaxis can scale. California permits limited commercial deployment of driverless vehicles, but each operator must obtain approvals from the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Public Utilities Commission. An expansion to other U.S. states will require compliance with varying rules. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, federal guidelines establish performance standards, while states retain authority over licensing and traffic enforcement.

Uber executives have not specified which additional cities will follow San Francisco, though company statements indicate that markets with high trip density and supportive regulatory environments will be prioritized. Industry analysts expect major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami to be candidates, provided state and local authorities grant necessary permissions.

In the near term, Uber will focus on completing extensive testing of the Lucid-based prototype fleet. Data collected during the pilot phase will be used to fine-tune Nuro’s autonomous-driving stack, validate safety redundancies and integrate the vehicle’s user-interface features—such as automated door operation and interactive passenger displays—into the Uber app. The company said it will also monitor rider feedback to assess comfort levels with fully driverless travel.

Crédito da imagem: Associated Press