Uber Plans Mid-2027 Houston Robotaxi Launch, Secures 50,000-Sq-Ft Depot
GOOG•Uber plans to launch driverless rides in Houston by mid-2027 using Lucid and Nuro vehicles and expanding Lucid's test fleet from its Arizona plant. The company has committed to at least 35,000 robotaxis and secured a multiyear lease on a 50,000-square-foot depot with 40 chargers and 15 maintenance bays.
1. Uber's Houston Robotaxi Plans
Uber plans to launch fully driverless rides in Houston by mid-2027 using autonomous vehicles developed by Lucid and Nuro. Nuro has already commenced testing in the city, while Lucid is set to expand its Arizona-built test fleet in the coming weeks for safety validation and certification.
2. Depot Infrastructure and Capacity
The company has signed a multiyear lease on a 50,000-square-foot depot in Houston equipped with 40 fast chargers and 15 maintenance bays, with construction slated to begin in early 2027. This facility will serve as the primary hub for charging, repairs, cleaning and daily fleet management of Uber’s autonomous vehicles.
3. Competitive Implications for Waymo
Uber’s investment of hundreds of millions in Lucid and Nuro, including a purchase commitment for at least 35,000 robotaxis, intensifies competition with Alphabet’s Waymo in the fourth-largest US city. Having sold its in-house autonomous research team in 2020, Uber now focuses on building the platform and infrastructure needed to support scalable commercial robotaxi operations.
