Lucid, Nuro, and Uber Unveil Global Robotaxi at CES, Announce Autonomous On-Road Testing
CES 2026 has officially given us the answer to a question we didn’t know we had: Can a taxi be more luxurious than my own living room?
The answer is a resounding yes. Lucid, Nuro, and Uber stole the show at CES this week by unveiling their joint Global Robotaxi. It’s not just a driverless car; it’s a high-tech “spatial sanctuary” on wheels. Built on the bones of the ultra-premium Lucid Gravity SUV, this vehicle is designed to make your cross-town commute feel like a first-class flight.
photo: @Lucid, @Nuro, and @Uber Unveil Global Robotaxi at CES, Announce Autonomous On-Road Testing / @Nuro
The Anatomy of a Luxury Robotaxi
This isn’t your average yellow cab. Here is what makes the Lucid-Nuro-Uber collaboration the “Bentley of ride-hailing”:
The “Halo” Greeting: As the car pulls up, a roof-mounted LED module (the “Halo”) displays your initials. It’s the digital version of a chauffeur holding a name sign at the airport—minus the awkward small talk.
A Six-Passenger Suite: The interior is cavernous, fitting up to six passengers in a layout that prioritizes “generous luggage space” and legroom. It’s built for group travel where nobody has to sit in the “middle seat.”
The “Nervous System”: It is powered by the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor—essentially a supercomputer on wheels—which processes 360-degree data from high-res cameras, radar, and solid-state LiDAR to ensure the ride is as smooth as silk.
Total Control: Once inside, you are the pilot. Through interactive screens, you can: Crank up the heated seats or adjust the climate or personalize the music.
Visualize the AI’s Brain: A real-time screen shows you exactly what the car “sees” (pedestrians, traffic lights, and lane changes), which is surprisingly calming once you realize the car is a better driver than you are.
The “Luxury” Stats: Weight, Price, and Breakability
How much does it cost? You can’t actually buy one (yet). This is a service model. However, Lucid is producing 20,000 units for Uber over the next six years. To give you an idea of the “luxury” level, the consumer version of the Lucid Gravity starts around $80,000, and the sensor-heavy robotaxi version is likely worth double that.
How much does it weight? The standard Gravity SUV is a beast at about 2,500 kg (over 5,500 lbs). Add in the “Halo” sensor rack and high-performance computing, and you’re looking at a vehicle that has some serious road presence.
Is it breakable? Mechanically, it’s a tank. But it is a Level 4 Autonomous vehicle, meaning it’s designed to handle complex urban environments without a human. If it does encounter a situation it can’t handle, it has “clear, verifiable safety logic” to pull itself over safely.
A Funny Note: The Ultimate Introvert’s Dream
The real luxury here isn’t the leather or the LiDAR—it’s the silence.
No Small Talk: You will never have to answer the question, “Busy night?” or listen to a podcast about conspiracy theories that you didn’t ask for.
The Initials Flex: Having a glowing halo display your initials on a San Francisco street corner is the 2026 version of “Don’t you know who I am?”
The “Pull Over” Button: The interactive screen has a literal button to request the vehicle to pull over. It’s the ultimate escape hatch for when you realize you forgot your phone at the bar.
When can you catch a ride?
Autonomous on-road testing officially began in the San Francisco Bay Area in December 2025. Pending final safety validations, you can expect to hail one of these “Moving Spas” via the Uber app later in 2026.
