Uber and Lucid's Robotaxi Set to Launch Later This Year | Carscoops

      The robotaxi service has launched in California, with intentions to expand globally.

      Lucid, Nuro, and Uber have revealed a production-ready robotaxi at CES. Built on the Lucid Gravity, it is scheduled for release later this year.

      Operations will commence in the San Francisco Bay Area before expanding to other locations worldwide.

      During CES, Lucid, Nuro, and Uber showcased their production-ready robotaxi and the in-cabin experience for riders. The companies also shared that on-road testing started in December, leading up to the planned launch in the Bay Area later this year.

      The Level 4 robotaxi, based on the Gravity SUV, includes a cutting-edge sensor array with high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar, and radar sensors to provide a 360° view of its surroundings. These sensors are seamlessly integrated into the Gravity’s design, including a halo mounted on the roof.

      Information is processed by the Nuro Driver, which utilizes a Level 4 autonomous driving system powered by Nvidia’s Drive AGX Thor, facilitating high-performance computing and real-time AI processing.

      Uber is responsible for owning and operating the robotaxis, alongside third-party fleet partners, enabling rides through its popular ride-hailing platform.

      An Intuitive User Experience

      While specific details remain under wraps, the companies have shared some information about the rider experience. It starts as the robotaxi arrives, with the ‘halo’ featuring multiple displays that show the rider's initials, helping ensure passengers enter the correct vehicle.

      Passengers are expected to enter through the second row, where a screen will welcome them by displaying their name and destination. There’s also a digital button to open the liftgate for luggage storage.

      Once passengers are ready to depart, they can tap “Start Drive.” The screen will show their estimated drop-off time and animations illustrating the vehicle's actions, including yielding to pedestrians, slowing at traffic lights, changing lanes, and dropping off passengers.

      Riders will have access to various vehicle controls, such as climate settings, heated seats, and audio options. They can contact support or instruct the vehicle to pull over as well. A conventional Uber-style map will also be available, which is expected since the ride-hailing giant designed the experience.

      While many riders might be traveling alone, the companies indicated that the robotaxi is also suitable for groups, accommodating up to six passengers and their luggage simultaneously.

      We can anticipate more information about the robotaxi in the months ahead, with Lucid set to begin production in Arizona later this year. The vehicles will then be deployed in the Bay Area.

      If all goes well, Uber plans to roll out at least 20,000 Lucid robotaxis over six years across various global markets.