LAS VEGAS — Uber Technologies (UBER) took a victory lap at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week, unveiling its most concrete vision yet for a driverless future. The ride-hailing giant, alongside partners Lucid Group and Nuro, debuted a production-intent robotaxi that promises to bring "luxury autonomy" to the masses. The news, coupled with a series of high-stakes AI announcements from Nvidia (NVDA), sent Uber’s stock climbing as investors cheered the company's "asset-light" path to scaling autonomous vehicles (AVs).

The "Most Luxurious" Robotaxi Debuts

The centrepiece of Uber’s CES presence was the reveal of a modified Lucid Gravity SUV, transformed into a Level 4 autonomous vehicle through a three-way partnership with Lucid and the AV technology company Nuro.

Designed entirely in-house, the six-passenger cabin blends spacious comfort with sophisticated digital integration. Through interactive screens, passengers can fully customise their environment by adjusting the multi-zone climate and heated seats, or selecting the perfect soundtrack for the ride.

To build passenger confidence, Uber has introduced "Transparency Tech" to eliminate the mystery of autonomous decision-making. A real-time visualisation screen inside the cabin displays exactly what the vehicle’s sensors perceive, explaining manoeuvres like yielding to pedestrians or slowing for traffic lights in clear detail. Externally, the vehicle is defined by its "Halo" system, a low-profile roof module housing a 360-degree suite of high-resolution cameras, Lidar, and radar. This system even includes integrated LED lights that display a rider’s initials, making pickups in crowded urban areas seamless.

Following successful preliminary testing in San Francisco throughout December 2025, the partnership is now shifting toward large-scale commercialisation. Production for these specialised units is scheduled to begin at Lucid’s Arizona manufacturing facility later this year, marking a significant step toward making autonomous luxury a reality.

Nvidia’s "Physical AI" Provides the Engine

At CES, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang declared that the ChatGPT moment for physical AI has finally arrived. Uber is leading this shift by equipping its robotaxis with the Nvidia DRIVE AGX Thor computer and the new Alpamayo AI models. This technology enables the vehicle to use chain-of-thought reasoning to master the unpredictable road scenarios that once hindered autonomous progress. By reasoning through these complex challenges in real time, Uber is turning the next generation of physical AI into a reality on the streets.

"Nvidia is the backbone of the AI era," said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. "Autonomous mobility will transform our cities for the better, and we’re thrilled to partner with NVIDIA to help make that vision a reality."

Stock Performance and Analyst Outlook

Wall Street responded with notable optimism. Uber shares jumped nearly 6% following the announcements, trading near $86 as of Jan 8, 2026.

Bank of America Securities reiterated its "Buy" rating on Uber with a price target of $119, citing the company’s strategic positioning. Analyst Justin Post noted that Uber is successfully transitioning from a pioneer in ride-sharing to the "unified operating network" for the robotaxi era. By partnering with manufacturers (Lucid, Stellantis) and tech providers (Nvidia, Nuro, Waymo) rather than building its own hardware, Uber avoids the massive R&D costs that have crippled other AV programs.

The company’s roadmap now targets the deployment of 100,000 autonomous vehicles across its global network starting in 2027. This includes a previously announced deal for Stellantis to supply 5,000 Level 4 vehicles and ongoing speculation about a major partnership with an Asian automaker later this year.