May 6, 2026 — Nuro has received a permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test its autonomous technology on Lucid Gravity SUVs without a human safety operator. The permit is a step toward launching Uber’s premium robotaxi service.
The California DMV confirmed the permit modification on Tuesday. Nuro has held a driverless permit for six years, but it previously applied only to low-speed delivery vehicles. The startup abandoned that program when it shifted its business model to licensing technology to partners like Uber.
Also read: Fervo Energy Targets $1.3B IPO for Geothermal Expansion
Nuro spokesperson David Salguero told TechCrunch the company expects to begin driverless testing later this year. He did not provide a specific timeline.
Regulatory Hurdles Remain
The driverless permit is one of several approvals Nuro needs before Uber can launch its robotaxi service. The company must also secure a driverless ride-hailing permit from the California Public Utilities Commission and a deployment permit from the DMV.
Also read: Ask.com Shuts Down After 30 Years
For now, Nuro and Uber are testing the Lucid vehicles with a human safety operator in the driver’s seat. Last month, Uber employees could request an autonomous ride in a Lucid robotaxi through the Uber app — with a safety operator still onboard.
Expanded Commitment to Lucid
Uber has deepened its financial commitment to Lucid since the three-way deal was announced in July 2025. The original agreement called for a $300 million investment and 20,000 robotaxi-ready Gravity vehicles. That has grown to $500 million and a minimum of 35,000 robotaxis.
The revised deal includes at least 10,000 Gravity SUVs and 25,000 EVs built on Lucid’s upcoming mid-size platform. Those EVs will use Nuro’s autonomous system, powered by Nvidia’s Drive AGX Thor computer.
The Lucid Gravity robotaxi, revealed in January, is equipped with high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar sensors, and radars for real-world perception.
Uber has also made a multimillion-dollar investment in Nuro, according to public filings.
Testing and Timeline
Lucid has delivered 75 engineering vehicles to Nuro and Uber. Testing and mileage accumulation are ongoing in several U.S. cities, the EV maker disclosed during its first-quarter earnings call on Tuesday.
Lucid said it is on track for commercial robotaxi operations to begin in late 2026. Those operations may not be fully driverless or could be limited, depending on regulatory approvals.
Lucid executives struck a positive tone during the earnings call, noting that development and certifications are moving as expected.
Industry watchers note that Nuro’s progress with the permit is a positive signal for Uber’s robotaxi ambitions. But the timeline remains uncertain, given the multiple regulatory approvals still required.
This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy and quality.
