Uber Lucid robotaxi San Francisco: A New Challenger to Waymo's Throne

Uber's ready to take back the wheel. In a major move on Monday, Uber unveiled a custom-built robotaxi in Las Vegas, marking a deep collaboration with electric vehicle maker Lucid, autonomous tech firm Nuro, and AI powerhouse Nvidia. It's no longer just an app company; it's becoming a full-stack mobility giant.

Uber Lucid robotaxi San Francisco: The Tech Inside

The new fleet is based on the Lucid Gravity SUV, an all-electric powerhouse designed to seat six passengers. This isn't your standard ride-share car. Inside, passengers find interactive screens allowing them to control seat heaters, climate, and music, or even signal the vehicle to pull over. The brain of the operation is powered by Nvidia AI infrastructure, which enables the vehicle to handle complex urban environments.

According to Reuters, Uber and Nvidia plan to deploy 100,000 robotaxis starting in 2027. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, noted that the project is turning science fiction into an everyday reality for commuters. Testing officially kicked off last month with safety drivers behind the wheel to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Confronting Waymo in its Backyard

San Francisco is currently the front line of the autonomous wars. Google's Waymo has already established a stronghold with over 800 vehicles in the area. Meanwhile, Amazon-owned Zoox is also testing its driverless service. Uber aims to launch its commercial service later in 2026, pending regulatory approval from California authorities.