Uber is kicking off the partnership with an initial $300 million investment, while Rivian will provide as many as 50,000 autonomous R2 SUVs.
The launch comes just two years after a major reboot at Hyundai-owned Motional. The service will start with a safety monitor, which Motional hopes to remove by year’s end.
The concept was a highlight of Lucid’s investor day, in which the company detailed its ambitions to push deeper into autonomy while pumping out new, affordable EVs.
Nissan will integrate Wayve’s self-driving software into the Leaf with the goal of making the vehicles available on the Uber app in Tokyo.
The purpose-built robotaxis will be available on Uber’s app in Las Vegas this year, and Los Angeles next year, if Zoox gets the federal approval it’s been seeking.
It’s a precursor to launching robotaxis in those cities, though the Amazon-owned company is still waiting for federal approval to commercially operate its purpose-built AV.
Waymo this week will begin mapping and collecting data in Chicago and Charlotte. The move comes as Waymo announces it is currently operating its robotaxis fully autonomously in 10 US cities.
Major automakers, tech giants, AI companies, and chipmakers are all trying to get a piece of Wayve.
Waymo launched services today in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando.
Tesla has filed a lawsuit against the California DMV in the ongoing battle around Autopilot.