Bolt and Lucid announce a partnership to develop a fleet of autonomous robotaxis in Europe

Bolt and carmaker Lucid have announced a partnership to develop and operate a fleet of autonomous robotaxis in Europe, at a time when companies in the region are trying to narrow the gap with the United States and China. The two firms did not specify a timeline for achieving the objective or the amount of the planned investment.

Under the agreement, Bolt will own and operate the autonomous vehicles. The companies intend to use the Hyperion system, developed by US chipmaker Nvidia. The robotaxis are to be manufactured at Lucid’s new production facility in Saudi Arabia, which is scheduled to become operational at the beginning of next year.

Bolt CEO Markus Villig estimates that millions of robotaxis could eventually operate in Europe. However, he identified strict safety regulations as the main obstacle to the development of autonomous services. Bolt aims to reach a fleet of 100,000 autonomous vehicles by 2035.

The partnership marks the technology’s transition from pilot projects to commercial deployment. In August, Uber, Verne and Pony.ai launched robotaxi services in Zagreb, while Waymo is testing autonomous vehicles in Munich and preparing to launch in Germany at the end of 2027.