Uber to Launch Autonomous Taxi Service in San Francisco by 2026

Uber announced on Wednesday its plans to introduce autonomous taxi rides in the San Francisco Bay Area, marking the city as the first market for this initiative. The ride-hailing giant expects to launch this service in late 2026, with vehicles developed in collaboration with electric car manufacturer Lucid Motors and self-driving technology firm Nuro Inc..

The autonomous vehicle is based on the Lucid Gravity SUV and is exclusive to Uber. Recently, Lucid delivered test vehicles to Nuro, paving the way for Uber to begin its testing phase. The company aims to have 100 test vehicles operational in the coming months, with a long-term goal of deploying over 20,000 autonomous taxis across various locations within six years. Riders will be able to access these vehicles through the Uber app.

In its efforts to expedite the rollout of autonomous taxis, Uber is collaborating with multiple tech firms. On Tuesday, the company revealed its partnership with Nvidia and automaker Stellantis. Stellantis is set to begin production of at least 5,000 vehicles equipped with Nvidia technology for autonomous operations in the United States starting in 2028.

In addition to its U.S. initiatives, Uber has also commenced offering autonomous taxi rides in Saudi Arabia through a partnership with WeRide, a Chinese autonomous technology company. This expansion underscores Uber’s commitment to the development of self-driving technology, aligning with industry trends as autonomous taxis become increasingly common.

While autonomous taxis are not a new concept, Uber’s entry into this market is noteworthy given its status as the world’s largest ride-hailing service. The company operates in over 15,000 cities across more than 70 countries. Competing in this space, Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet, has been testing autonomous taxis for several years and has already made them available in cities including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Austin. Waymo recently announced plans to expand its operations to London in 2024.

The partnership between Uber and Waymo in Austin further illustrates the growing momentum behind autonomous ride-sharing technologies. As the industry evolves, Uber’s initiatives may significantly influence the future of urban transportation, blending the latest technological advancements with everyday mobility solutions.