Nuro Secures Permit to Test Robotaxi Passenger Service with Safety Driver in California
Nuro received a CPUC permit allowing pilot testing of autonomous passenger service with a safety driver on California public roads, a key step toward launching its robotaxi program with Uber and Lucid.
- nearly 100
- 5
What Happened
Nuro has secured a California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Drivered Pilot Permit, allowing the company to test autonomous passenger service with a safety driver while carrying passengers on public roads. This builds on Nuro's California DMV Driverless Testing Permit received in April, which permits testing without a safety driver. Together, these permits enable driverless testing and passenger-carrying pilot operations, though they do not authorize paid rides or driverless passenger operations.
Announced San Francisco Bay Area as first market for next-generation robotaxi service
Started autonomous testing on public roads with a safety driver
Unveiled production-intent vehicle at CES
Received California DMV Driverless Testing Permit
Secured CPUC Drivered Pilot Permit
“These approvals mark another meaningful step forward as we continue preparing for launch in California. They expand what we can validate on public roads and reflect the steady progress our team is making across technology, operations, rider experience, and regulatory readiness.”
nearly 100vehicles
Nuro operates nearly 100 robotaxi engineering vehicles, which are Lucid Gravity vehicles integrated with the Nuro Driver.
In April, select Uber employees began testing the service directly in the Uber app in the San Francisco Bay Area. With the CPUC permit, Nuro becomes one of only five companies in California holding both the DMV Driverless Testing Permit and the Drivered Pilot Permit.
Previously from Nuro, Inc.
In June 2026, Nuro, Uber, and Lucid announced Houston as the second market for their robotaxi program, following the San Francisco Bay Area launch planned for 2026.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Nuro, Inc.'s official releases.
Why this matters
The permit moves Nuro closer to launching a commercial robotaxi service, potentially offering a new transportation option in the San Francisco Bay Area. It also positions Nuro among only five companies in California with both driverless testing and passenger-carrying pilot permits, highlighting progress in autonomous vehicle regulation and deployment.
Terms in This Story
- CPUC
- California Public Utilities Commission, the state agency that regulates utility services including autonomous vehicle passenger service.
- DMV
- California Department of Motor Vehicles, which issues permits for autonomous vehicle testing on public roads.
- Driverless Testing Permit
- A permit that allows a company to test autonomous vehicles without a safety driver in the vehicle.
- Drivered Pilot Permit
- A permit that allows a company to conduct pilot testing of autonomous passenger service with a safety driver present.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.