Lucid Motors introduced the Lunar, a robotaxi concept without a steering wheel or pedals, during an investor event in New York. The compact two-seater is built on the same platform intended for Lucid’s upcoming line of midrange electric vehicles.
Marc Winterhoff, Lucid’s acting CEO, said the company is working on Lunar but plans to reveal it only after launching its midrange models. However, Lucid later clarified that active development of a dedicated robotaxi isn’t underway yet.
Lucid also hinted at a potential partnership with Uber for deploying robotaxis based on one of its future affordable EVs. Currently, Lucid is collaborating with autonomous delivery startup Nuro to create a self-driving version of its Lucid Gravity SUV, which is expected to join Uber’s fleet in San Francisco before the end of the year.
It remains unclear if the Gravity model will incorporate Nuro’s self-driving technology in Uber’s service.
These moves show Lucid’s ambition to expand beyond selling luxury electric cars by developing autonomous driving technology as a new revenue stream. The company presented projections indicating that income from robotaxi partnerships could surpass licensing fees from its EV technologies.
Looking ahead, Lucid plans to launch a subscription service for driver-assist features called Lucid DreamDrive Pro in the first half of 2027. Pricing will start at $69 per month for basic assistance and rise to $199 for a fully autonomous driving experience requiring no driver intervention-a feature no automaker currently offers.
Lucid is also developing an AI-powered voice assistant for its vehicles, designed to handle simple commands like adjusting cabin temperature and more complex requests such as suggesting unique travel or entertainment spots. However, a live demo of the assistant during the presentation faltered, so the company resorted to a prerecorded video.
The event largely focused on reducing production costs and boosting electric drivetrain efficiency-key to hitting the target price of around $50,000 for Lucid’s upcoming midrange models. Two of these models have been named:
- Lucid Cosmos
- Lucid Earth
The third model remains under wraps.
Lucid’s push into robotaxis and autonomous technology reflects broader industry trends, where legacy automakers and startups alike race to monetize self-driving systems. While Tesla and Waymo have made strides in autonomous platforms, Lucid’s strategy of combining midrange EVs with robotaxi services and monthly feature subscriptions could challenge how luxury EV makers generate revenue beyond the initial sale.
The company’s next steps with Uber and Nuro partnerships will be critical to watch, especially regarding real-world deployment timelines and technology integration.