US self-driving startup backed by NVIDIA and Uber starts testing robotaxis on Tokyo's challenging streets as part of global expansion.
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Nuro, the US autonomous vehicle startup backed by NVIDIA, Toyota, and Uber, has begun testing its self-driving vehicles on Tokyo's streets with human safety drivers as required by Japanese law. The company is testing a handful of vehicles in the densely populated city as it works toward launching a robotaxi service with Uber and Lucid in San Francisco later this year.
Tokyo presents unique challenges for autonomous vehicles with its narrow, crowded streets and left-side driving. CEO Andrew Chapin described the testing as "a good pressure test" of the system's capabilities in an internationally complex market. The company aims to achieve Level 4 autonomy, which enables full self-driving under specific conditions.
Uber plans to deploy up to 100,000 autonomous vehicles by 2027, including 20,000 robotaxis powered by Lucid and Nuro technology. The ride-hailing giant recently unveiled its new autonomous vehicle design at CES 2026. Waymo, Nuro's main competitor, has been operating in Tokyo since April 2025 through partnerships with local operators.
Unlike Waymo's focused robotaxi approach, Nuro is developing what Chapin calls a "universal autonomy platform" that could extend to various applications and vehicle types. The company has previously partnered with 7-Eleven for autonomous deliveries in California. Uber also plans to introduce pilot vehicles in Tokyo by late 2026 through collaborations with Nissan and Wayve.