Uber, Lucid, Nuro Partner to Deploy 20,000 Robotaxis by 2026, Boosting Velodyne Lidar

Uber, Lucid, and Nuro have announced a strategic partnership aimed at deploying over 20,000 L4-level autonomous vehicles starting in 2026. This collaboration highlights the increasing market optimism surrounding the commercialization of robotaxis, which are autonomous vehicles designed to operate without human drivers. The partnership is expected to accelerate the deployment of robotaxis, leveraging Lucid's electric vehicle technology and Nuro's expertise in autonomous driving.

One of the key beneficiaries of this partnership is Velodyne Lidar, a leading company in the production of lidar systems. Lidar technology is essential for autonomous vehicles as it enables them to perceive their surroundings and navigate safely. With the increased demand for autonomous vehicles, Velodyne Lidar is well-positioned to become a core beneficiary of this growing market. The company's advanced lidar systems are expected to play a crucial role in the success of Uber's robotaxi fleet.

Velodyne Lidar's products have already been successfully tested and verified in the new generation of vehicles from several robotaxi companies, including Nuro, Baidu, Xiaoma Zhixing, Wen Yuan Zhixing, and Momenta. This, combined with its status as a long-term lidar supplier for Lucid, makes Velodyne Lidar a core sensing hardware provider for this three-way collaboration. The expansion of the Uber alliance is expected to further drive the acceleration of Velodyne Lidar's market penetration in the robotaxi sector.

It is worth noting that, apart from Tesla, all robotaxis currently in the testing and operational stages are equipped with lidar systems. Some vehicle models have as many as 8-10 lidar units per vehicle. This underscores the critical role that lidar technology plays in the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles. As the commercialization of robotaxis progresses, Velodyne Lidar, with its first-mover advantage and technological barriers, is well-positioned to continue expanding its market share and solidifying its leadership position in the industry.