Uber inks six-year robotaxi deal with Lucid, invests $300 million in EV company

Core Insights - Uber has announced a partnership to deploy over 20,000 robotaxis in the next six years, responding to increasing demand for driverless cars [1][2] - The partnership involves Lucid, an electric vehicle maker, and Nuro, an autonomous vehicle startup, with Uber investing $300 million in Lucid [2][3] - Nuro will develop the self-driving technology for Lucid's robotaxis, which are expected to launch in a major U.S. urban hub next year [2][4] Group 1 - The partnership aims to bring autonomous driving to a wider audience, as stated by Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi [3] - Lucid's interim CEO Marc Winterhoff views this collaboration as an opportunity to enter a new market [3][6] - Nuro will provide a "level 4 self-driving system" that can operate without human intervention under normal conditions [4][5] Group 2 - The deal follows Uber's previous alliance with Waymo, which has expanded its services in Atlanta and Austin [4][5] - Lucid's Gravity vehicles are designed to have a 450-mile range, potentially reducing costs and improving accessibility [6] - Nuro is currently testing its first prototype vehicle at its Las Vegas proving grounds, having raised $106 million in funding earlier this year [7]