Uber announced plans to launch a premium driverless robotaxi service in Houston by mid-2027, partnering with EV maker Lucid and self-driving startup Nuro. This marks Uber's second US market for the trio, following a planned Bay Area launch later in 2025. Uber is investing ~$500M each in Lucid and Nuro and committing to purchase at least 35,000 Lucid vehicles. The strategy reflects Uber's platform-not-builder approach after selling its self-driving unit in 2020. Houston is notable because Waymo already operates a commercial driverless service there, putting the two companies in direct competition — even as they remain partners in other cities. Key caveats: the vehicles still require safety operators, and Uber is taking on significant capital costs by owning and operating the fleet, including a 50,000-sq-ft depot under construction.
