Uber and Lucid have begun deploying robotaxi services for Uber employees in San Francisco, marking a transition from controlled testing to real-world use, according to Inc Magazine and TechCrunch. This initial phase limits ride requests to Uber employees as the companies gather operational data and refine their autonomous vehicle systems.
Uber plans to acquire at least 35,000 Lucid electric vehicles to support a global robotaxi fleet, a significant expansion of their partnership first reported by Gizmodo and confirmed by The Verge. The deal, which increased from an initial 20,000 vehicles, includes additional investment in Lucid's autonomous vehicle technology and coincides with the appointment of a new Lucid CEO with experience in the elevator industry.
In a separate development, Uber has partnered with Nvidia to launch AI-powered robotaxis beginning in the first half of 2027 in Los Angeles and San Francisco, with plans to expand to 28 cities worldwide by 2028, Lopez Doriga Digital reports. The project will initially operate a fleet focused on data collection before transitioning to Level 4 autonomous vehicle capabilities enabled by Nvidia’s AI driving platform.
The ongoing expansions and partnerships highlight Uber’s strategy to integrate electric and autonomous vehicles into its urban transportation network, pairing premium EVs like Lucid’s with advanced AI systems. These deployments also serve as critical testing grounds for evaluating user experience, safety, and operational efficiency in dense city environments.
Going forward, key developments to watch include the rollout timeline for full commercial availability beyond Uber employees, the scalability of the AI and autonomy technology within multiple cities, and the impact of Uber’s large-scale vehicle procurement on the autonomous vehicle market. The collaboration with Nvidia and continuous fleet expansion are poised to accelerate the path to broadly accessible robotaxi services.
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