Uber, Nvidia and Mercedes-Benz have teamed up to develop a fleet of luxury robotaxis based on the German automaker’s S-Class platform. The companies recently confirmed the collaboration as part of a broader effort to build a global robotaxi ecosystem that combines Mercedes’ luxury sedan with Nvidia’s autonomous driving technology and Uber’s ride-hailing network.
The partnership builds on Uber’s ongoing collaboration with Nvidia, announced in October last year, using Nvidia’s DRIVE AV software and DRIVE Hyperion architecture to make vehicles “Level 4 ready.” This means that the vehicles can operate under predefined conditions without human intervention.
Mercedes-Benz has chosen the new S-Class as the core vehicle for its robotaxi plans, citing the sedan’s advanced technology and software architecture. The luxury model will be integrated with Mercedes’ proprietary MB.OS operating system, which provides partners with a foundation for developing autonomous applications on the vehicle’s computing platform.
There is no clear launch schedule yet
Uber’s role in this partnership is to integrate these autonomous vehicles into its ride-hailing service, allowing users to hail robotaxi through the Uber app. Although no firm launch schedule has been announced, the partnership aims to provide autonomous robotaxi services in several major cities worldwide.
The collaboration comes as competition in the robotaxi space is becoming increasingly intense. Companies like Waymo and Tesla have already tested robotaxis on public roads, but the sector faces increasing regulatory and safety scrutiny. Waymo, for example, is currently under investigation after several incidents were reported last year in which its robotaxis violated traffic laws.
