Nuro secures driverless testing permit before Uber robotaxi launch
▼ Summary
– Nuro received a modified California DMV permit to test Lucid Gravity SUVs with its autonomous tech without a human safety operator on public roads, but has not yet started testing.
– Nuro previously held a driverless permit only for low-speed delivery vehicles, which was scrapped when it pivoted to licensing its technology to companies like Uber.
– Before launching a premium robotaxi service with Uber, Nuro must obtain additional permits from the California Public Utilities Commission and the DMV.
– Uber increased its investment in Lucid to $500 million and committed to buying a minimum of 35,000 robotaxis, including 10,000 Gravity SUVs and 25,000 EVs on Lucid’s midsize platform.
– Lucid delivered 75 engineering vehicles to Nuro and Uber, with testing ongoing, and expects commercial robotaxi operations to begin in late 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
Nuro has secured a crucial regulatory milestone on the path toward launching an Uber-powered robotaxi service. The California Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed on Tuesday that it has amended Nuro’s existing driverless testing permit to include the Lucid Gravity SUV, the vehicle that will anchor Uber’s premium autonomous ride-hailing fleet. However, the startup, backed by Nvidia and Uber, is not yet ready to begin driverless operations.
Nuro has held a driverless permit for six years, but that authorization was previously limited to a low-speed delivery vehicle program. That initiative was abandoned when the company shifted its business model toward licensing its autonomous technology to partners like Uber. The newly modified permit now allows Nuro to test the Lucid Gravity SUVs on public roads in California without a human safety operator behind the wheel. Nuro spokesperson David Salguero told TechCrunch that the company expects to start driverless testing later this year, though he declined to provide a more specific timeline.
This permit is just one of several regulatory approvals Nuro must obtain before Uber can launch its premium robotaxi service. The company will also need a driverless ride-hailing permit from the California Public Utilities Commission and a deployment permit from the DMV. For now, Nuro and Uber are testing the Lucid vehicles in autonomous mode with a safety driver present. Last month, that testing expanded to allow Uber employees to request a ride in a Lucid robotaxi through the Uber app, though a human driver remained in the vehicle.
As Nuro advances its testing program, Uber has deepened its financial commitment to Lucid. When the three-way partnership was announced in July 2025, Uber pledged $300 million and agreed to purchase 20,000 robotaxi-ready Gravity vehicles. That deal has since grown to $500 million and a minimum of 35,000 robotaxis, including at least 10,000 Gravity SUVs and 25,000 EVs built on Lucid’s upcoming midsize platform. Uber has also made a multimillion-dollar investment in Nuro.
The Lucid Gravity robotaxi, unveiled in January, is equipped with high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar sensors, and radars. Nuro’s autonomous driving system is powered by Nvidia’s Drive AGX Thor computer, which processes the sensor data to perceive and navigate the real-world environment.
During Lucid’s first-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, the EV maker disclosed that it has delivered 75 engineering vehicles to Nuro and Uber. Testing and mileage accumulation are ongoing in multiple cities across the United States. Lucid reiterated that commercial robotaxi operations remain on track to begin in late 2026. However, the company acknowledged that those operations may not be fully driverless or could be limited in scope depending on regulatory approvals.
Despite those uncertainties, Lucid executives struck an optimistic tone during the call, stating that all development and certification processes are proceeding as planned.
(Source: TechCrunch)
