Uber's Driverless Robotaxis Hit San Francisco Streets in 2026

Imagine calling a ride and watching a car pull up with no one behind the wheel, ready to take you safely across town.

Uber just unveiled its first purpose-built robotaxi, and it's already navigating real traffic in San Francisco. The company partnered with Lucid to build the all-electric vehicle and Nuro to develop the self-driving technology. Unlike concept cars stuck on test tracks, these robotaxis are handling everyday driving right now on public streets.

The vehicle looks different from typical cars. A sleek Halo module sits on the roof, packed with cameras, lidar, and radar that let the car see in every direction. LED screens on the outside display rider initials so you know it's your ride. Inside, up to six passengers can adjust the climate, choose music, and watch screens that show exactly what the vehicle is thinking.

That transparency matters. Riders can see when the robotaxi plans to change lanes, yield to pedestrians, or slow for traffic lights. No more wondering why your driver made a certain move. The car explains itself in real time.

Safety operators currently supervise every test drive while engineers collect data on intersections, lane changes, and busy pedestrian areas. Nuro runs thousands of simulations alongside the real-world testing. The system uses NVIDIA's most advanced computing platform to process everything instantly.

Production starts later this year at Lucid's Arizona factory. Uber plans to deploy 20,000 or more robotaxis across dozens of U.S. and international cities over the next six years. Every ride will book through the regular Uber app, just like requesting a driver today.

The Ripple Effect

This launch could reshape how cities move. A fleet of shared electric robotaxis means fewer cars idling in traffic and reduced emissions in dense neighborhoods. Riders who can't drive due to age, disability, or circumstance gain new independence. Peak hour availability improves when vehicles operate around the clock without driver shift changes.

The technology also creates new manufacturing and fleet management jobs. Lucid's Arizona factory will ramp up production to meet demand. Cities working with Uber on regulations are setting safety standards that other autonomous vehicle companies will follow.

Uber says the first public rides launch in a major U.S. city before 2026 ends. Your next ride might drive itself, and that future just got a lot closer.