Lucid, Nuro and Uber Unveil Robotaxi Ahead of Planned 2026 Launch

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Lucid Group, Nuro and Uber on Monday unveiled a production-intent robotaxi at the Consumer Electronics Show, marking a major step toward commercial deployment later this year.

The trio said on-road testing began in December, led by Nuro using safety-supervised engineering prototypes. A commercial launch is planned for the San Francisco Bay Area, with production expected to start later this year at Lucid’s Arizona factory, pending final validation.

The robotaxi is based on Lucid’s Gravity electric SUV and features a roof-mounted sensor “halo” combining cameras, lidar and radar for 360-degree perception. The vehicle runs Nuro’s Level 4 autonomous driving system and uses Nvidia’s DRIVE AGX Thor computing platform.

For Uber, the project reinforces its strategy of partnering with autonomous tech developers rather than owning self-driving systems. For Lucid, it represents a push to diversify beyond consumer EVs amid slowing demand and rising competition.

The unveiling places the partnership alongside other U.S. robotaxi efforts from Waymo and Tesla as the race to commercialize autonomous ride-hailing accelerates.

AI and Self-Driving Technology Take Center Stage at CES as Automakers Pull Back on EVs

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Autonomous driving and artificial intelligence are set to dominate the agenda at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, as automakers scale back electric vehicle plans and look to AI-driven technologies as their next growth engine.

With EV demand cooling amid policy changes under Donald Trump and rising costs, most major automakers are skipping new EV launches at CES this year. Instead, suppliers and startups are expected to showcase advances in self-driving hardware, software and AI-powered driver assistance.

Industry leaders say investor attention is shifting toward autonomy. Recent moves — including limited robotaxi launches by Tesla and rapid expansion by Waymo — have renewed optimism after years of safety incidents, heavy spending and regulatory hurdles.

AI will feature prominently beyond vehicles, powering robots, wearables and smart devices. Keynote speakers include Jensen Huang of Nvidia and Lisa Su of Advanced Micro Devices.

Cost pressures remain a major concern. Automakers are absorbing higher tariffs and facing intensifying competition from Chinese rivals, prompting a sharper focus on efficiency and capital discipline as they bet that AI and autonomy — not EVs — will define the industry’s next phase.

Hyundai Plans to Deploy Humanoid Robots at U.S. Factory Starting in 2028

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Hyundai Motor Group said it plans to begin deploying humanoid robots at its U.S. manufacturing plant in Georgia from 2028, marking a major step toward automating higher-risk and repetitive factory tasks.

The company unveiled the production version of the Atlas humanoid robot — developed by its subsidiary Boston Dynamics — at the Consumer Electronics Show. Hyundai did not disclose costs or volumes but said it ultimately aims to roll out the robots across all its manufacturing sites as part of its push into “physical AI.”

Atlas robots will initially handle parts sequencing from 2028, with duties expanding gradually as safety and quality benefits are validated. By 2030, Hyundai expects the robots to move into component assembly and, over the longer term, take on heavy-load, repetitive and complex tasks.

Hyundai said the robots are designed to reduce physical strain on workers and improve safety. Atlas can lift up to 50 kilograms, operate autonomously and function in industrial environments ranging from minus 20 to 40 degrees Celsius.

The company added that it is accelerating development through partnerships with AI leaders such as Nvidia and Google, as humanoid robots are expected to become a key segment of the emerging physical AI market.