Uber invests $500 million in Nuro for robotaxi rollout

Uber has committed nearly $500 million to autonomous vehicle startup Nuro as part of a strategic push to deploy robotaxis on its ride-hailing platform, according to sources familiar with the matter. The investment underscores Uber’s pivot from developing its own self-driving technology to partnering with specialists following a fatal accident involving one of its test vehicles in 2018.

The financial commitment is structured through a combination of direct capital and milestone-linked payments. Uber previously participated in a $203 million funding round for Nuro that valued the Silicon Valley startup at $6 billion. The company has since made a significantly larger, previously unreported follow-on investment. Additional funding is contingent on Nuro hitting specific development targets, including testing vehicles without a safety driver later this year, beginning to carry passengers in fully autonomous operations before year-end, and expanding the service more broadly in 2027. Sources indicate the first set of milestones has already been met, triggering an initial release of funds.

This investment is central to a three-way partnership between Uber, Nuro, and electric vehicle...