Overview
- Nuro, which announced Friday it secured a Drivered Pilot Permit from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), can now begin passenger tests with a safety driver.
- The CPUC permit allows rides in test vehicles with a human operator and blocks paid trips and driverless passenger service.
- The company also holds an April Driverless Testing Permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and Electrek reports it covers Santa Clara and San Mateo counties at up to 45 mph day or night.
- Select Uber employees started trying the service through the Uber app in April in the Bay Area, using Lucid Gravity SUVs operated in autonomous mode with a safety driver.
- Uber has expanded its bet with a $500 million stake in Lucid and a commitment for at least 35,000 robotaxis, while reports say paid driverless rides still require separate DMV deployment and CPUC ride-hailing approvals before any late‑2026 debut.