At CES 2026, Uber, Lucid Motors, and Nuro revealed the production-intent version of their long-anticipated robotaxi, offering a clearer look at how the companies plan to bring a premium autonomous ride service to market later this year. The vehicle, which has been under development for more than six months, is already undergoing testing on public roads ahead of a planned commercial launch in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The robotaxi is based on the Lucid Gravity SUV, a platform chosen largely for its interior space and high-end fit and finish. Integrated into the bodywork and a roof-mounted “halo” are high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar sensors, and radar units, forming the vehicle’s autonomous perception system. Computing duties are handled by Nvidia’s Drive AGX Thor platform, which manages sensor fusion and real-time decision making. The illuminated halo also serves a practical purpose, using LED lighting to help riders identify their vehicle at pickup, a concept already familiar from other autonomous fleets.
One notable distinction in this partnership is how the autonomous hardware is installed. Rather than retrofitting vehicles after assembly, all of the robotaxi technology is integrated directly during production at Lucid’s Casa Grande, Arizona factory. This approach is intended to reduce complexity, cost, and turnaround time compared with methods used by competitors that modify vehicles post-delivery. Once validation is complete, production-ready robotaxis are expected to roll off the same factory lines used for standard Gravity models.
Inside the cabin, the user experience closely resembles what riders may have encountered in other autonomous services. A screen for rear passengers displays an animated view of the vehicle moving through city streets, along with nearby traffic and pedestrians. It also shows estimated arrival times, remaining ride duration, and basic controls for climate and audio. Riders can contact support or request a pull-over directly from the interface. A larger front-cabin display presents similar information, integrated into the Gravity’s expansive curved OLED screen.
Uber is developing the in-vehicle software, though the version shown at CES was not yet interactive. Still, the layout suggests a focus on familiarity rather than experimentation, likely to reduce friction for first-time users. The company has described the service as a premium offering, and the Gravity’s spacious interior, particularly in the two-row configuration, supports that positioning. Uber confirmed that a three-row version will also be available.
There are, however, some open questions. Lucid’s first year of Gravity production was marked by software challenges that prompted a public apology to customers. While the company says it has since stabilized production and doubled output year over year, it remains to be seen whether the autonomous variant will avoid similar issues once deployed at scale.
For now, the unveiling signals a more concrete step toward Uber’s autonomous ambitions, built around a purpose-integrated vehicle rather than retrofits. As testing continues and production ramps up, the success of the Uber-Lucid-Nuro robotaxi will depend less on novelty and more on reliability, software maturity, and how well it fits into real-world urban transport.
