## Lucid Expands Uber Robotaxi Deal to 35,000 Vehicles, Appoints New CEO from Mobility Giant
Lucid is doubling down on its autonomous future, announcing a significant expansion of its robotaxi partnership with Uber and a surprising leadership change. The luxury EV maker revealed that Uber is increasing its order of Lucid Gravity SUVs for its robotaxi fleet from 20,000 to 35,000 vehicles. This move signals deepening financial and strategic ties between the two companies, as the expansion comes with an additional, undisclosed investment from Uber into Lucid. The deal, which also involves autonomous delivery startup Nuro, represents one of the largest concrete commitments to a commercial robotaxi fleet to date, putting substantial pressure on Lucid to deliver at scale.

The company is simultaneously undergoing a major executive shift. Lucid has appointed a new CEO who comes not from the automotive or tech sectors, but from Otis Worldwide Corporation, a global leader in elevator, escalator, and moving walkway manufacturing. This unconventional choice points to a strategic pivot, emphasizing operational expertise in high-volume, reliability-critical mobility systems over traditional automotive pedigree. The incoming CEO's background in managing vast fleets of passenger-moving devices aligns directly with the logistical challenges of deploying and maintaining a large-scale robotaxi operation.

This dual announcement underscores Lucid's urgent bet on autonomous ride-hailing as a primary revenue stream, potentially offsetting challenges in the competitive consumer EV market. The expanded Uber deal provides a crucial, near-term demand anchor for Lucid's manufacturing output. However, it also ties the company's fortunes closely to the success and regulatory approval of Uber's autonomous ambitions. The leadership change introduces a new operational philosophy, but it remains to be seen how expertise in vertical transportation translates to the complexities of self-driving electric vehicles on public roads.
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- **Source**: The Verge
- **Sector**: The Lab
- **Tags**: autonomous_vehicles, electric_vehicles, CEO_change, Uber, partnership
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-04-14 15:22:29
- **ID**: 63970
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/63970