NVIDIA and Uber Lead the Charge: 100,000 Autonomous Vehicles by 2027 with Stellantis, Lucid, and Mercedes-Benz

The autonomous driving landscape is shifting into high gear, and NVIDIA, the undisputed titan of AI computing, is firmly at the wheel. On October 28, 2025, during its Global Technology Conference (GTC) in Washington, D.C., NVIDIA unveiled a transformative partnership with Uber Technologies, alongside collaborations with Stellantis, Lucid Group, and Mercedes-Benz. This alliance isn't just about bolting AI onto cars—it's a blueprint for scaling Level 4 (L4) autonomy worldwide, targeting robotaxis, luxury EVs, and beyond. With Uber eyeing 100,000 self-driving vehicles in its global fleet by 2027, these partnerships signal a seismic shift toward AI-defined mobility, potentially reshaping urban transportation and generating trillions in economic value. In this 2025 deep dive, we'll explore the tech powering this ecosystem, the roles of each partner, and what it means for consumers, investors, and the road ahead.The Core of the Partnership: NVIDIA's DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10 and the Path to L4 AutonomyAt the heart of these collaborations is NVIDIA's DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10, a next-generation reference platform that transforms ordinary vehicles into L4-capable machines. L4 autonomy means vehicles can handle complex driving scenarios—like navigating city streets or highways—without human intervention in defined operational domains, such as geofenced urban areas. The platform integrates two AGX Thor systems-on-a-chip, running on DRIVE OS software, and supports a sensor suite including 14 cameras, nine radars, LiDAR, and 12 ultrasonic sensors for 360-degree perception.This isn't NVIDIA's first rodeo in AV tech; its DRIVE platform has powered over 15 million vehicles to date. But Hyperion 10 elevates the game by enabling "any-to-any" routing—seamless trips from any address to any other—while leveraging NVIDIA's Cosmos platform for training AI models on trillions of synthetic and real-world driving miles. The result? Scalable fleets that learn and improve in real-time, reducing edge cases that have plagued AV development for years.Complementing this hardware is the new Halos Certified Program, NVIDIA's industry-first certification for physical AI safety in AVs and robotics. It evaluates systems for reliability, marking a crucial step toward regulatory approval and consumer trust. As NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang proclaimed, "What was once science fiction is fast becoming an everyday reality." globenewswire.com This tech stack isn't siloed—it's designed for interoperability, allowing partners to plug in and accelerate their AV timelines.Uber: Scaling the World's Largest Robotaxi NetworkUber, the ride-hailing behemoth serving 150 million monthly users across 10,000 cities, is positioning itself as the operational backbone for this AV revolution. Under the partnership, Uber will integrate NVIDIA-powered vehicles into its network starting in 2027, ramping up to 100,000 units globally. These robotaxis won't just be Uber-branded; they'll draw from a diverse pool of automakers, ensuring varied data inputs for AI training and broader geographic coverage.Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi hailed NVIDIA as "the backbone of the AI era," emphasizing how the collaboration unlocks L4 autonomy at scale. benzinga.com The joint "AI data factory" will process petabytes of driving data via NVIDIA's cloud infrastructure, creating foundational models that refine over time. For riders, this means cheaper, safer, 24/7 mobility—potentially slashing wait times and costs by 50% in dense urban zones. Challenges remain, like regulatory hurdles in Europe and Asia, but Uber's existing mapping and demand prediction tech gives it an edge over pure-play AV firms like Waymo.Stellantis: From Legacy Vans to AV-Ready PlatformsStellantis, the $200 billion automotive giant behind Jeep, Dodge, and Peugeot, brings manufacturing muscle to the table. It's developing "AV-Ready Platforms"—medium-sized vans and compact vehicles optimized for L4 autonomy and robotaxi duties—using Hyperion 10. globenewswire.com Production kicks off in 2028 with an initial 5,000 units for Uber in the U.S., scaling via partnerships with Foxconn for hardware integration.This move revives Stellantis's AV ambitions, echoing its past supply of Chrysler Pacifica minivans to Waymo. CEO Carlos Tavares sees robotaxis as a hedge against EV market volatility, tapping into a projected $1.5 trillion AV services market by 2030. By leveraging NVIDIA's stack, Stellantis can retrofit existing platforms, cutting development costs by up to 30% and accelerating time-to-market.Lucid: Elevating Luxury EVs to Driverless HeightsLucid Group, the Silicon Valley EV upstart backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, is betting big on L4 for its premium lineup. The company will embed full-stack NVIDIA AV software into its next-gen U.S. models, including a forthcoming $50,000 SUV, aiming to be among the first to offer L4 to private owners. electrive.com This extends beyond robotaxis, targeting affluent consumers who want hands-free luxury on demand.Lucid's Gravity SUV already boasts 900+ horsepower and 500-mile range; adding Hyperion 10 could make it a benchmark for "physical AI" in personal mobility. CEO Peter Rawlinson noted the partnership's role in processing "trillions of driving miles" for robust AI models. forbes.com For Lucid, this isn't just tech—it's a differentiator in a crowded EV space, potentially boosting margins through software subscriptions for AV features.Mercedes-Benz: Pioneering L4 Chauffeur ExperiencesMercedes-Benz, the gold standard in luxury autos, is testing Hyperion 10 integrations with its MB.OS software for the next-gen S-Class. globenewswire.com The goal? A "Level 4 chauffeur experience" that builds on its current Level 3 Drive Pilot, already approved in Germany and the U.S. for hands-off, eyes-off driving in limited conditions.Mercedes aims to deploy L4 in geofenced luxury scenarios, like airport shuttles or VIP transfers, before expanding to consumer sales. This partnership accelerates R&D, allowing Mercedes to focus on its strengths—refined interiors and safety—while NVIDIA handles the AI heavy lifting. As the only automaker with L3 on public roads, Mercedes is primed to lead L4 adoption in Europe, where strict EU AI Act regulations demand certified safety like Halos.Broader Ecosystem and Freight ExtensionsThese passenger-focused ties are part of a larger NVIDIA DRIVE L4 ecosystem, including Aurora, Volvo Autonomous Solutions, and Waabi for long-haul trucking—addressing freight's $4 trillion market. nvidianews.nvidia.com Tier-1 suppliers and startups can now certify via Halos, democratizing AV development.Implications for 2025 and Beyond: Transforming MobilityThis consortium could disrupt a $7 trillion global mobility industry, creating 10 million AV-related jobs by 2030 while curbing emissions through optimized routing. Economically, NVIDIA's stock surged 5% post-announcement, underscoring investor confidence in its $4.8 trillion valuation. Consumers gain safer rides—AVs promise 90% fewer accidents—while cities benefit from reduced congestion.Yet, hurdles loom: Ethical AI dilemmas, data privacy under GDPR, and competition from Tesla's Robotaxi or Waymo's expansions. Regulatory green lights, especially in the U.S. via NHTSA, will be pivotal.The Road Ahead: A Collaborative Drive to AutonomyNVIDIA's partnerships with Uber, Stellantis, Lucid, and Mercedes-Benz aren't mere handshakes—they're the ignition for an AV golden age. By 2027, expect robotaxis zipping through streets, luxury cars summoning themselves, and trucks hauling freight sans drivers. As Huang puts it, this is about "architecting a system that can truly drive you from any address to any address." axios.com For businesses, the lesson is clear: Collaborate or get left in the dust. What's your take on robotaxis reshaping daily commutes? Drop your thoughts in the comments.