Nuro has received permission to begin driverless testing of Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with its autonomous technology on public roads in California — vehicles that will eventually be used in Uber’s premium robotaxi service. But the Silicon Valley-based startup, backed by Nvidia and Uber, says it’s not quite ready to launch.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles, the agency that regulates autonomous vehicle testing and development in the state, confirmed to TechCrunch on Tuesday that it has amended Nuro’s driverless AV license to include Lucid Gravity vehicles.
Nuro has held a driverless license for six years, but only applied to operate a low-speed transport vehicle — a program that was scrapped when the startup pivoted its business model to focus on licensing its technology to companies like Uber.
This latest driverless license allows Nuro to test Lucid vehicles without a human safety operator behind the wheel. Nuro spokesman David Salguero told TechCrunch that the company expects to begin driverless testing later this year, without providing more information on the timing.
The driverless license is one of several regulatory hurdles Nuro must overcome before Uber can launch its premium robotaxi service. Nuro will also need to obtain a driverless license from the California Public Utilities Commission and a development permit from the DMV.
Currently, Nuro and Uber are testing Lucid vehicles in autonomous mode with a human safety operator in the driver’s seat. Last month, that test expanded to allow Uber employees to request an autonomous ride in a Lucid robotaxi — with a human safety operator still on board — through the Uber app.
As Nuro makes progress in testing, Uber has increased its commitment to Lucid.
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When the three-way deal was announced in July 2025, Uber said it would invest $300 million in Lucid and buy 20,000 robotaxi-ready Gravity vehicles. It has since expanded to $500 million and at least 35,000 robotaxis, with the deal changing to include at least 10,000 Gravity SUVs and 25,000 EVs built on Lucid’s upcoming midsize platform.
These EVs will be equipped with Nuro’s autonomous vehicle system, which is powered by Nvidia’s Drive AGX Thor computer. Unveiled in January, the Lucid Gravity robot taxi is equipped with high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar sensors, and radar that help the self-driving system perceive and operate within its real-world environment.
Uber has also made a multi-million dollar investment in Nuro.
Lucid has delivered 75 self-driving vehicles to Nuro and Uber, and testing and mileage continues in multiple cities across the United States, the electric vehicle maker revealed during its first-quarter earnings call on Tuesday.
Lucid said Tuesday it is on track for commercial robotaxi operations to begin in late 2026. It’s possible those robotaxi operations will not be driverless or otherwise limited, depending on regulatory approvals.
However, Lucid executives struck a positive tone during the call, noting that all developments and certifications are proceeding as expected.
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