Nuro has obtained a California permit to test its Lucid Gravity SUVs without a human safety driver, paving the way for Uber's planned robotaxi service, which aims to deploy a fleet of at least 35,000 vehicles. While this is a significant step towards driverless operations, Nuro still needs additional regulatory approvals before launching paid rides.
Nuro's recent acquisition of a California driverless permit for Lucid Gravity SUVs marks a pivotal step toward launching Uber's planned robotaxi service, setting a new scale in the autonomous vehicle sector with a commitment of 35,000 robotaxis. However, while this permit allows Nuro to test without safety drivers, Uber's entry into the robotaxi market still hinges on obtaining additional deployment and ride-hailing permits from California authorities. This underscores a significant competitive move but also highlights the regulatory hurdles still facing Uber, unlike Waymo which already operates fully driverless paid rides in the area.