Uber Plans 20,000-Robotaxi Fleet Launching in San Francisco by 2026

Uber is re-entering the robotaxi market with plans to launch a premium autonomous vehicle service in the San Francisco Bay Area in late 2026, partnering with electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors and self-driving tech startup Nuro. This move follows Uber's previous autonomous vehicle efforts, which ended after regulatory challenges, a fatal accident, and legal issues involving its self-driving car division. The new service aims to deploy over 20,000 autonomous vehicles across the U.S. within six years, starting with more than 100 robotaxis in the Bay Area for testing and validation. Uber's announcement has positively influenced stock prices for both Uber and Lucid, as the companies compete with existing players like Waymo, Tesla, and Amazon's Zoox in the region. Despite the progress, Uber and its partners must still secure necessary permits from California regulators before operating commercially. The Bay Area's history as a hub for transformative technology makes it a fitting launch site for this next-generation robotaxi program.