Uber’s Lucid Robotaxi Is Coming in 2026—and It’s Already Testing on Public Roads

Most CES “future car” reveals feel like stage props. This Lucid robotaxi shows up as a real vehicle that already drives real streets.

In Uber’s CES robotaxi press release, Uber, Lucid, and Nuro say they showed “production intent” robotaxi vehicles at CES 2026. They mean it as a close-to-final build, not a show-only shell.

They also say road tests started in December 2025 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Nuro runs the testing with test cars on public roads. A trained crew keeps watch. Those miles matter, because real streets bring bikes, buses, bad lane paint, weird merges, and human chaos.

The roof is the headline. The Lucid Gravity-based robotaxi wears a low “halo” module. It holds cameras, lidar, and radar for a full 360-degree view. The halo also carries LEDs. They help you spot the right vehicle. They show rider initials. They show status from pickup through dropoff.

Inside, Uber goes for calm and clear. Screens let riders set the temp, turn on heated seats, pick music, contact support, or ask the vehicle to pull over. Another screen can show what the robotaxi sees and where it plans to go. It can show basics like slowing for lights, yielding to people, and changing lanes.

The tech list keeps going. The companies say the robotaxi uses NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor for the heavy computer work. They also describe Nuro’s system as Level 4. In plain terms, that’s the tier where a car can drive itself in a set area when the rules and maps line up.

This isn’t a tiny pod. The partners say the Lucid robotaxi can seat up to six people and still leave room for luggage. That fits real life, like airport runs, group dinners, and family travel.

On timing, the companies say they expect a Bay Area launch later in 2026. They also say Lucid plans to start production at its Arizona factory later this year, after final checks. Lucid repeats those targets in its own CES robotaxi announcement.

My Verdict

This is a real step past “cool demo, see you in five years.” Public-road testing plus a named launch region puts weight behind the robotaxi talk.

Still, keep your hype on a leash. Autonomous taxis have proved tricky, especially for Tesla. The first rides will show up in one place. They will spread only if the miles stay clean and the rules line up. If you live in the Bay Area, watch how Uber labels the self-driving option. Use the in-car route view to stay comfortable with what the vehicle plans to do. Everyone else should watch too, because the sensors and safety work that make a fleet robotaxi run tend to show up in regular cars next.

For more detail on the halo, screens, and cabin layout, see Nuro’s Lucid–Uber robotaxi program page.