Uber is preparing to expand its premium robotaxi program to Houston by mid-2027, marking the service's second U.S. market under its partnership with Lucid and Nuro. The rollout follows an initial push in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the companies plan to introduce the service later this year.
The company says the broader vision is to scale the program across dozens of cities in the years ahead. For now, the spotlight is on San Francisco and Houston, where Uber will compete with Waymo, which already operates commercial robotaxi services in both locations.
Nuro has been testing Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with its autonomous driving system on public roads, while also using closed-course trials and simulation to refine performance. In Houston, Uber and Nuro are running a fleet of 100 autonomous vehicles with safety operators, and the number is expected to grow as Lucid begins production of the first robotaxi-ready vehicles at its Arizona factory.
The Lucid Gravity robotaxi features high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar, and radar systems designed to help the vehicle interpret its surroundings in real time. Uber will own and operate the fleet, with a strong focus on the rider experience inside the cabin.
To support the launch, Uber has also built out its Houston presence with a 50,000-square-foot depot and a dedicated charging hub. The partnership has also strengthened Nuro's licensing strategy and given Lucid a new path to scale its EV platform. With investments in both companies and a commitment to purchase at least 35,000 robotaxi-ready Lucid vehicles, Uber is positioning autonomous mobility as a major part of its future network. The next phase could reshape how premium urban transport evolves across major cities.