This Week in Startups Uber, Lucid & Nuro team up on robotaxis by 2026 | E2173
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Sep 3, 2025 Dave Ferguson, co-founder and president of Nuro, dives into the groundbreaking partnership with Uber and Lucid to roll out fully driverless Gravity SUVs by 2026. He discusses how innovative sensor technology and extensive mapping of 150 cities enhance safety and reduce costs. The conversation highlights the significance of lidar for challenging driving conditions and reflects on lessons learned from Cruise's setbacks. Ferguson also explores the potential for autonomy to make rides cheaper than car ownership, marking a significant shift in transportation.
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Trust Matters As Much As Tech
- Public trust and regulator relationships are as critical as technology for commercial AV scale.
- Dave emphasizes heavy investment in regulator trust early to survive inevitable incidents and scale safely.
Use Maps When They Yield Clear ROI
- Use prior maps when cost-effective because maps give occlusion and context that onboard sensors cannot always provide.
- Dave argues maps improve decisions (e.g., knowing unseen speed bumps) and should be used if low-cost to build and maintain.
Years Of Driverless Tests With No Autonomy-Caused Injuries
- Nuro has operated autonomous vehicles for nine years with five years of fully driverless custom-vehicle operation.
- Dave states they've had zero accidents caused by Nuro's autonomy system to date.