Uber's latest robotaxi plan involves 20,000 Lucid EVs
The robotaxi service is expected to launch in late 2026 in an unnamed "major US city," and Uber said that a prototype of an operational autonomous Lucid-Nuro vehicle is currently being tested on a closed circuit at a Nuro facility in Las Vegas. According to the new partners, the robotaxi will benefit from the Lucid Gravity SUV's "advanced technology platform, redundant electrical and controls architectures, and long range," with the latter estimated to be around 450 miles.
Nuro will be responsible for overseeing the extensive safety checks. These range from simulations to on-road testing and are marked on "dozens" of categories. The approved Lucid Gravity robotaxi will operate at level 4 autonomy, which essentially makes it almost fully self-driving and able to perform the majority of its functions without any human intervention.
Uber has spent much of this year expanding its robotaxi ambitions through various team-ups with the likes of Volkswagen and British AI company Wayve , with whom it plans to bring robotaxis to the UK for the first time next year. Back in March, Uber launched its robotaxi service with Waymo in Austin, building on the existing offering in Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Waymo One covers 37 square miles of the city, and Uber users can ride in one by ordering an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric.
Earlier this week, Uber also announced a new partnership with China-based Baidu, which will see the two companies bring Baidu's Apollo Go autonomous vehicles to mainland China and other non-US (no surprise there) markets around the world.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Business News
14 minutes ago
- Time Business News
How Investment Management Services in Virginia Can Help
Investing can be a daunting and complex process, especially for individuals who lack the time or expertise to manage their portfolios effectively. Whether you are just starting or a seasoned investor, the goal remains the same: to maximize returns while managing risk. In Virginia, investment management services provide individuals and businesses with the expertise, personalized strategies, and local insights necessary to achieve their goals. By partnering with an investment management service in Virginia, you gain access to professionals who understand both the broader market and the specific financial dynamics that may impact your investments. This guest post explores how these services can help you grow your wealth, optimize your portfolio, and reach your financial objectives. One of the primary reasons to seek investment management services in Virginia is the opportunity for personalized strategies. Unlike generic, one-size-fits-all financial products, investment managers in Virginia tailor their advice and investment plans to fit your specific goals, risk tolerance, and financial situation. For example, if you are a young professional in Virginia with a long time horizon for retirement, your advisor may recommend a more aggressive portfolio composed of stocks and growth-oriented assets. On the other hand, if you're nearing retirement, the focus would shift to preserving capital while still achieving modest growth through more conservative investment choices. These tailored strategies ensure that your portfolio is aligned with your unique financial situation, maximizing the potential for returns while minimizing risk in accordance with your needs. Diversification is a fundamental concept in investing, and it's one of the key ways investment management services in Virginia help protect your wealth. Instead of placing all your money into a single asset class, diversification spreads your investments across various asset types—stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities—reducing the impact of volatility on your overall portfolio. In Virginia, where local industries such as technology, government contracting, healthcare, and real estate play a significant role in the economy, local investment managers have the knowledge to help diversify your portfolio within these sectors. For instance, a Virginia-based advisor may recommend investments in regional real estate projects or healthcare stocks that have strong growth potential. The goal of diversification is to protect your portfolio against market fluctuations by ensuring that not all your assets are affected by the same economic conditions. This balance of risk and reward is crucial to maximizing returns in both favorable and adverse market environments. Investment management services in Virginia offer access to a diverse range of specialized investment vehicles that may not be readily available to the average investor. These vehicles include private equity, hedge funds, municipal bonds, and even real estate investments, which can offer higher returns compared to traditional stocks and bonds. For example, Virginia is home to a thriving real estate market, particularly in areas such as Northern Virginia and Richmond. An investment manager familiar with the local market can offer strategies for investing in real estate directly or through real estate investment trusts (REITs), both of which may yield higher returns than other forms of investment. Moreover, investment managers have access to institutional-grade opportunities. They can help you tap into these exclusive investment options, potentially providing higher returns that are not available to the average investor. Taxes are one of the most significant factors affecting your returns. Virginia's state income tax rates, property taxes, and capital gains tax laws can all have an impact on how much you take home from your investments. A skilled investment manager can help you optimize your portfolio to minimize your tax burden, ultimately maximizing your net returns. For instance, investment managers may recommend tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s, which allow you to defer taxes on your investment gains. Additionally, strategies such as tax-loss harvesting, where you sell losing investments to offset gains, can help you reduce your taxable income, thereby giving your portfolio more room to grow. By leveraging these tax-efficient strategies, you can keep more of your gains and further enhance the returns on your investments. The financial markets are constantly changing, and so are your circumstances. That's why regular monitoring and portfolio rebalancing are crucial to maintaining a strategy that continues to meet your objectives. Investment management services in Virginia offer ongoing portfolio reviews and adjustments to ensure that your investments remain aligned with your financial goals. For instance, if the stock market experiences a significant downturn, your advisor may adjust your portfolio to minimize exposure to high-risk assets. Similarly, if a particular asset class is performing exceptionally well, they may recommend taking profits and reinvesting them into more stable, growth-oriented options. By staying proactive, Virginia-based investment managers help you navigate market volatility and ensure your investments stay on track for long-term growth. When you choose an investment management firm based in Virginia, you're partnering with professionals who have a deep understanding of the local economy, market conditions, and regulatory environment. They are aware of which industries are thriving in the region and which economic factors could impact your investments. For instance, with the growing tech industry in Northern Virginia and the influence of government contracts on the local economy, investment managers in the region can guide you toward the best investment opportunities. Their local expertise can also help you stay informed about upcoming changes in Virginia's tax laws and how those changes might impact your investment strategy. Maximizing returns through smart, strategic investing is the ultimate goal for any investor. With the guidance of an experienced investment management service in Virginia, you gain access to personalized investment strategies, diversification, specialized investment vehicles, and tax optimization strategies that can significantly enhance your wealth. By leveraging local expertise and continuous portfolio monitoring, investment management services enable you to navigate the complexities of wealth management while maximizing your returns. If you're serious about growing your wealth and optimizing your financial future, partnering with an investment management service in Virginia is an innovative and effective step toward achieving your financial goals. Reach out to a trusted advisor today and start maximizing your investment returns! TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
Uber is testing a women-only driver service. Here's how it works.
Uber will soon introduce a new ride-hailing feature in the United States that allows women to request female drivers, and gives women drivers the option to only accept trip requests from women. The feature, called 'Women Preferences,' could help address long-standing safety concerns, as ride-sharing services have grappled with issues including assault. Uber said it was responding to feedback from women riders and drivers, offering them 'more choice, more confidence, and more flexibility.'
Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business Insider
Tesla's finance chief says Americans should buy its cars now — Trump's Big Beautiful Bill could affect later deliveries
Tesla has a message for Americans: If you want our cars, buy them now. On Wednesday's earnings call, Tesla's chief financial officer, Vaibhav Taneja, said that President Donald Trump's tax law could affect the availability of its cars. One of the law's changes is the removal of the $7,500 EV credit by the end of the quarter. "Given the abrupt change, we have limited supply of vehicles in the US this quarter," Taneja said. "If you are in the US and looking to buy a car, place your order now as we may not be able to guarantee delivery orders placed in the later part of August and beyond." Earlier this month, the House passed the final version of the bill, which extends the president's 2017 tax cuts and makes key changes to the tax system. The law also ends the $7,500 EV tax credit awarded to buyers on September 30, which analysts saw as a win for smaller rivals such as Lucid and Rivian, who are less dependent on the credit. The Tesla CFO said that the company would start "paring" back planned incentives as cars start to sell. After the tax law was passed, Tesla began offering perks such as free supercharging on select models, a one-month free trial of Full Self‑Driving, and a $1,000 discount for "American heroes" like military members, teachers, and first responders. Tesla said it delivered over 384,000 vehicles in the quarter that ended in June. On the call, CEO Elon Musk said Tesla is in a "weird transition period" as it navigates the expiration of incentives and the wider regulatory environment for autonomous vehicles. The Trump administration's tariffs are also raising costs for the automaker, the CFO said. "While we are doing our best to manage these impacts, we are in an unpredictable environment on the tariff front," Taneja said. He estimated that the cost of the tariffs increased by around $300 million this quarter. On Wednesday, the EV giant reported second-quarter revenue of $22.5 billion, compared to expectations of $22.64 billion — its sharpest quarterly revenue decline in at least the last 10 years. It reported earnings per share, a key measure of profitability, were 40 cents, compared to Wall Street's estimates of 42 cents. Tesla's stock fell over 4% after hours on Wednesday. It is down 17.6% so far this year.
