Blab Tech
Uber to Launch Lucid Gravity Robotaxis in Houston by 2027, Expanding $500 M Deal
Uber Technologies announced that it will begin deploying Lucid Motors’ Gravity electric SUVs as autonomous robotaxis in Houston, Texas, in mid‑2027. The move follows the company’s plan to introduce the same vehicles in San Francisco this year.
The Houston rollout will be backed by a 50,000‑square‑foot depot that Uber and Lucid have secured. The facility is slated to be operational by early 2027 and will provide four megawatts of power, 40 fast chargers, and 15 service bays to keep a large fleet on the road and ready for maintenance.
This announcement builds on a three‑way partnership first disclosed in July. Lucid, Uber and autonomous‑vehicle software firm Nuro have agreed to use the Gravity SUV, equipped with Nuro’s Level 4 “Nuro Driver” system, to launch robotaxi services in San Francisco by the end of this year. Houston will be the next city.
Lucid is responsible for manufacturing the Gravity SUVs, Nuro supplies the self‑driving software and hardware, and Uber will provide the ride‑hailing platform that customers will use to book rides. The partnership has grown in scale since the July announcement.
Nuro’s engineering fleet has expanded to nearly 100 Gravity vehicles, which have been mapping streets and collecting driving data in California and Texas. The data collection is intended to prepare the fleet for paid rides, which are not yet available.
Uber has increased its commitment to purchase Lucid Gravity SUVs from 20,000 to 35,000 units. The company also raised its investment in Lucid from $300 million to $500 million. The additional vehicles will be deployed as robotaxis on the Uber app in the future.
The expansion comes as the autonomous‑taxi market in the United States is becoming more crowded. Alphabet’s Waymo currently operates driverless taxis in 11 cities, including Austin, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Amazon’s Zoox launched a public service last year, and Uber has secured deals with other manufacturers such as Rivian, which it plans to buy up to 50,000 R2 SUVs for robotaxi use.
The Lucid Gravity platform offers a longer range and a larger interior than many competitors. The SUV can seat up to six passengers and has generous luggage space, which could give it an advantage over vehicles that seat only four.
The Houston depot will also support maintenance and cleaning of the fleet. With 40 fast chargers, the facility can keep a large number of vehicles on the road simultaneously. The 15 service bays will allow for routine inspections and repairs.
While the partnership has not yet opened paid rides, the companies have been conducting extensive testing. Lucid delivered the first Gravity to Nuro about eight months ago for engineering and testing purposes.
Industry observers note that the expanded vehicle order and investment signal Uber’s intent to compete more aggressively in the autonomous‑taxi space. The company’s strategy includes building its own fleet as well as partnering with multiple OEMs to diversify its supply chain.
The next steps for the Houston launch will involve finalizing regulatory approvals, completing the depot construction, and integrating the Nuro Driver software with Uber’s booking platform. Once these elements are in place, Uber plans to begin offering paid robotaxi rides to the public.
The development of the Lucid‑Nuro‑Uber partnership illustrates the broader trend of automakers, software firms and mobility providers collaborating to bring autonomous vehicles to market. The outcome of this venture could influence the pace at which other cities adopt driverless ride‑hailing services.
As of now, the Houston robotaxi service remains in the planning and testing phase. Uber, Lucid and Nuro have not yet set a specific launch date beyond the mid‑2027 target. The companies will likely provide further updates as the depot construction progresses and regulatory approvals are secured.
The partnership’s expansion to 35,000 vehicles and $500 million investment reflects Uber’s commitment to establishing a significant autonomous fleet. The company’s next milestones will be the completion of the Houston depot, the rollout of paid rides in San Francisco, and the eventual launch in Houston.
The autonomous‑taxi market continues to evolve, with Waymo, Zoox, Rivian and other players expanding their services. Uber’s Lucid Gravity deployment adds another option for consumers and could shape the competitive landscape in the coming years.
The Houston rollout will be backed by a 50,000‑square‑foot depot that Uber and Lucid have secured. The facility is slated to be operational by early 2027 and will provide four megawatts of power, 40 fast chargers, and 15 service bays to keep a large fleet on the road and ready for maintenance.
This announcement builds on a three‑way partnership first disclosed in July. Lucid, Uber and autonomous‑vehicle software firm Nuro have agreed to use the Gravity SUV, equipped with Nuro’s Level 4 “Nuro Driver” system, to launch robotaxi services in San Francisco by the end of this year. Houston will be the next city.
Lucid is responsible for manufacturing the Gravity SUVs, Nuro supplies the self‑driving software and hardware, and Uber will provide the ride‑hailing platform that customers will use to book rides. The partnership has grown in scale since the July announcement.
Nuro’s engineering fleet has expanded to nearly 100 Gravity vehicles, which have been mapping streets and collecting driving data in California and Texas. The data collection is intended to prepare the fleet for paid rides, which are not yet available.
Uber has increased its commitment to purchase Lucid Gravity SUVs from 20,000 to 35,000 units. The company also raised its investment in Lucid from $300 million to $500 million. The additional vehicles will be deployed as robotaxis on the Uber app in the future.
The expansion comes as the autonomous‑taxi market in the United States is becoming more crowded. Alphabet’s Waymo currently operates driverless taxis in 11 cities, including Austin, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Amazon’s Zoox launched a public service last year, and Uber has secured deals with other manufacturers such as Rivian, which it plans to buy up to 50,000 R2 SUVs for robotaxi use.
The Lucid Gravity platform offers a longer range and a larger interior than many competitors. The SUV can seat up to six passengers and has generous luggage space, which could give it an advantage over vehicles that seat only four.
The Houston depot will also support maintenance and cleaning of the fleet. With 40 fast chargers, the facility can keep a large number of vehicles on the road simultaneously. The 15 service bays will allow for routine inspections and repairs.
While the partnership has not yet opened paid rides, the companies have been conducting extensive testing. Lucid delivered the first Gravity to Nuro about eight months ago for engineering and testing purposes.
Industry observers note that the expanded vehicle order and investment signal Uber’s intent to compete more aggressively in the autonomous‑taxi space. The company’s strategy includes building its own fleet as well as partnering with multiple OEMs to diversify its supply chain.
The next steps for the Houston launch will involve finalizing regulatory approvals, completing the depot construction, and integrating the Nuro Driver software with Uber’s booking platform. Once these elements are in place, Uber plans to begin offering paid robotaxi rides to the public.
The development of the Lucid‑Nuro‑Uber partnership illustrates the broader trend of automakers, software firms and mobility providers collaborating to bring autonomous vehicles to market. The outcome of this venture could influence the pace at which other cities adopt driverless ride‑hailing services.
As of now, the Houston robotaxi service remains in the planning and testing phase. Uber, Lucid and Nuro have not yet set a specific launch date beyond the mid‑2027 target. The companies will likely provide further updates as the depot construction progresses and regulatory approvals are secured.
The partnership’s expansion to 35,000 vehicles and $500 million investment reflects Uber’s commitment to establishing a significant autonomous fleet. The company’s next milestones will be the completion of the Houston depot, the rollout of paid rides in San Francisco, and the eventual launch in Houston.
The autonomous‑taxi market continues to evolve, with Waymo, Zoox, Rivian and other players expanding their services. Uber’s Lucid Gravity deployment adds another option for consumers and could shape the competitive landscape in the coming years.
