Strategic partnerships of major brands
The taxi thefts were already treated as a distant promise, some prototypes circulated in closed circuits, the tests were limited and delimited, but something changed and changed in a coordinated way, three big names presented a clear sign of maturity. Lucid Group, Nuro and Uber revealed the prototype of the robotaxi that should hit the streets in 2026.
The vehicle is based on the Lucid Gravity, a fully electric SUV, but what really differentiates it is not just in the design or comfort, it is in the brain. Driving is commanded by Nuro's Level 4 autonomy, meaning the vehicle can operate alone in defined urban environments, without constant human intervention. And more importantly, testing on public roads has already begun since December with security operations only supervising the system.
The previous detail is very important
We are no longer talking about simulations or controlled demonstrations in safe environments, we are talking about validation in real traffic with pedestrians, cyclists, unpredictable intersections and the daily chaos of cities, the robotaxi was designed to see the world in 360º, high resolution cameras, radars and solid state lidar sensors are integrated into the body and a discreet halo on the roof, designed not to compromise the aesthetics of the vehicle.
External LEDs help the passenger identify the correct car, show initials and communicate the status of the trip, inside, the experience was designed by Uber with a clear focus, transparency. The passenger not only enters the car, he understands what the car is doing, because the screens show in real time what the robbed taxi sees, how it interprets the environment and why it makes each decision.
Stopping at the traffic light, giving preference to a pedestrian, changing lanes or choosing the drop-off point, this is not an aesthetic detail, it can even be psychological. Trust in autonomous vehicles is not born from invisible perfection, but from understanding the process, trust is earned; The robotaxi is no longer trying to prove that it works, it is trying to prove that it is reliable, this is possible because all autonomous vehicles work with sensors, data centers and AI working in real time.
