Lucid and Bolt Partner to Deploy 25,000 Robotaxis Across Europe

U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Group and European shared mobility company Bolt announced a partnership on Thursday to launch a self-driving ride-hailing service across Europe. The collaboration, which aims to deploy 25,000 autonomous vehicles, sent Lucid shares up 5.5% in premarket trading.

The Agreement

The companies will co-develop a vehicle platform designed for SAE Level 4 automation, which allows for operation without human intervention under specific conditions. Bolt plans to own and operate the fleet, with a long-term goal of expanding its autonomous vehicle count to 100,000 by 2035.

Key details of the partnership include:

• The robotaxi fleet will be based on Lucid’s upcoming Midsize vehicle platform.
• The vehicles are expected to utilize Nvidia’s Hyperion autonomous-vehicle architecture.
• Bolt's autonomous-driving unit will define vehicle specifications and manage fleet infrastructure, operating systems, and city partnerships.

Competitive Landscape

Ad

This move highlights a strategic shift in the autonomous vehicle sector from small-scale pilot programs to large commercial deployments, particularly in the European market. Competition in the space is heating up as multiple companies race to establish a significant presence.

Other major players are also making inroads in the region. Alphabet's Waymo is currently testing its autonomous vehicles in Munich ahead of a planned German launch in late 2027. In August, Uber, Verne, and Pony.ai jointly launched robotaxi services in Zagreb, Croatia.

Strategic Context

For Lucid, this European expansion builds on an existing U.S. robotaxi partnership with Uber and autonomous driving firm Nuro. In that deal, Uber committed to deploying at least 35,000 Lucid vehicles. These agreements position Lucid as a key vehicle supplier for the nascent autonomous mobility industry.

Lucid and Bolt stated they will work with technology partners, as well as European regulators and policymakers, to facilitate the rollout. This collaboration is critical for navigating the complex regulatory environment surrounding autonomous driving technology.