Uber has announced a collaboration with Lucid and Nuro to develop over 20,000 robotaxis that will launch in the U.S. over the next six years.
Partnership with Lucid and Nuro
Uber, Lucid, and Nuro are planning to create a fleet of more than 20,000 self-driving taxis accessible through the Uber mobile application. Lucid will provide its electric Gravity SUV, integrated with Nuro's autonomous technology. Initial operations are expected to launch in a major U.S. city next year.
Uber's Investment in New Technologies
Uber is investing $300 million in Lucid, marking one of its largest investments to date. It will also secure a seat on Nuro's board of directors. Nuro's co-founder Dave Ferguson has indicated that the scale of Uber's investment in Nuro will be significantly larger than that in Lucid.
Market Response and Lucid's Stock
Following the collaboration announcement, Lucid's stock (LCID) surged by 36%. Currently, the stock trades at $2.97 with a daily range of $2.83 to $3.19. Lucid's interim CEO Marc Winterhoff noted that Uber's investment confirms Lucid's progress towards developing ideal self-driving vehicles.
The synergy of the three companies' technologies presents prospects for expanding the autonomous transport market and increasing competition in this field. The partnership is expected to significantly influence the future of urban mobility.
