Nuro receives driverless testing permit for Uber robotaxi service
Original: Nuro receives driverless testing permit ahead of Uber robotaxi service launch
Why This Matters
Major milestone for Uber's premium robotaxi service development and autonomous vehicle deployment
Nuro received California DMV approval to test Lucid Gravity SUVs without safety operators on public roads. The permit allows driverless testing for vehicles that will be used in Uber's premium robotaxi service, though testing won't begin until later this year.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles modified Nuro's six-year-old driverless permit to include Lucid Gravity vehicles, previously limited to low-speed delivery vehicles. Nuro must still obtain ride-hailing permits from the California Public Utilities Commission and deployment permits from DMV before Uber's premium robotaxi launch. Currently, Nuro and Uber test autonomous Lucid vehicles with human safety operators. Last month, Uber employees began requesting rides through the app with safety operators present. Uber has expanded its Lucid investment from $300 million for 20,000 vehicles to $500 million for minimum 35,000 robotaxis, including 10,000 Gravity SUVs and 25,000 other EVs since the July 2025 partnership announcement.