Uber is gearing up to launch its self-driving partnership with autonomous vehicle company Nuro and electric vehicle maker Lucid Motors later this year, and it's using CES to showcase what's in store for future riders.
On Monday, the three companies shared more details about the upcoming Lucid Gravity SUV robotaxi, from its design to the rider experience. The self-driving partnership is slated to kick off in late 2026 in the San Francisco Bay Area before expanding to additional cities.
As is standard on most autonomous vehicles (AVs), the Lucid Gravity robotaxi will be equipped with a sensor suite of cameras, lidar sensors and radars for navigating roads. A roof-mounted display with LEDs will show a rider's initials to help them flag down the right vehicle, similar to what passengers see when hailing a Waymo robotaxi, for example.
Uber, which has more than a dozen AV partnerships (including one with Waymo) is dubbing the upcoming Lucid AV the "industry's most luxurious robotaxi." That's not surprising, given that the non-self-driving version of the Lucid Gravity starts at around $80,000. (The sole vehicle that currently makes up Waymo's fleet, the Jaguar I-Pace, safely falls in the luxury car category as well.)
An interactive screen in the Lucid Gravity robotaxi will allow riders to control temperature and music. Uber
Uber says this is the first time it's "designing the in-vehicle rider experience." That'll include interactive screens that can activate heated seats, control the temperature and play music. There will also be options for contacting support or having the vehicle pull over. (Again, that's similar to what you'll see on other robotaxis from companies like Waymo or Zoox).
The Lucid Gravity robotaxi can seat up to six passengers, which should be an advantage over vehicles from Waymo and Zoox, which can only fit up to four. The Gravity will also have "generous luggage space," though it's not clear exactly how many bags that might accommodate.
A screen atop the robotaxi will help riders find their vehicle. Uber
Bringing self-driving options to more ride-hailing passengers
Uber, Lucid and Nuro announced their partnership in July. Uber will manage ride-hailing operations, Lucid will manufacture the vehicles and Nuro will equip the self-driving technology.
... continue reading