Uber Rivian Robotaxi Partnership Signals New Demand for Lidar Minor Metals

Uber Rivian Robotaxi

Uber Rivian robotaxi partnership plans mark a renewed US push into autonomous vehicle deployment after years of setbacks across the sector. Uber will invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian to place 50,000 autonomous robotaxis on the Uber platform from 2028, beginning in San Francisco and Miami.

The Uber Rivian robotaxi partnership will start with 10,000 midsize SUVs. The companies can later negotiate up to 40,000 additional vehicles from 2030, with purchases handled by Uber or its fleet partners.

The investment is tied to autonomy milestones, showing that Uber wants exposure to robotaxi growth without rebuilding its own self-driving division. For Rivian, the deal offers potential volume, investor momentum, and a clearer route to monetize its autonomous vehicle technology.

Rivian Autonomy Suite Adds Metals Exposure to Robotaxi Growth

Rivian will supply the robotaxis through its third-generation autonomy suite, launched in December 2025. The system uses cameras, radars, Lidar sensors, and Rivian’s own high-powered inference chips.

This technology stack makes the robotaxi business a materials story as well as a software story. Lidar-rich autonomous platforms increase demand for advanced semiconductors, optics, sensors, and specialty materials.

Minor metals such as gallium, indium, and germanium are especially relevant because they support components used in optoelectronics, power electronics, infrared sensing, and Lidar-related systems. As autonomous driving hardware becomes more complex, these materials gain strategic importance in the EV supply chain.

US Autonomy Push Follows China’s Lidar-Rich EV Trend

Uber’s move reflects a broader return of US interest in autonomous mobility. The company sold its self-driving division in 2020 after high costs and safety problems, but it is now using partnerships to re-enter the market.

Rivian’s use of Lidar places it closer to the hardware trend already visible in China, where carmakers have added Lidar to midrange EVs to differentiate vehicles in a crowded market. That trend has already drawn attention from suppliers expecting stronger demand for gallium, indium, and germanium.

The partnership also arrives as Rivian looks for new growth after deliveries declined last year. Alongside the robotaxi plan, Rivian is pushing its smaller R2 platform and expects to use LG Energy Solution’s 4695 cylindrical cells for future production.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The Uber Rivian robotaxi partnership shows that autonomous vehicles could reopen a new demand channel for specialty metals and sensor materials. If robotaxi fleets scale, the strategic bottleneck may shift from vehicle assembly to Lidar, chips, battery cells, and the minor metals behind advanced sensing systems.

Robotaxi battery supply strengthens Panasonic Energy Zoox deal for 2170 lithium-ion batteries

Zoox

A new robotaxi battery supply agreement links Panasonic Energy with Zoox to power fleet expansion. Panasonic Energy will supply its latest 2170 lithium-ion battery cells under a multi-year contract. However, the companies did not disclose pricing or volumes for the robotaxi battery supply program.

Deliveries will start in early 2026, and the initial cells will ship from Japan. Meanwhile, Panasonic plans to expand production to its Kansas factory as demand grows. As a result, the deal signals a phased localization strategy that can reduce lead times and strengthen North American resilience.

Zoox is also scaling manufacturing and market coverage in parallel. It opened its first robotaxi production facility in Hayward, California and launched ride-hailing services in Las Vegas, Nevada and San Francisco, California. Therefore, robotaxi battery supply becomes a gating factor for utilization, ramp speed, and unit economics.

Production localization shifts the supply chain risk profile

Localization reduces cross-border logistics risk and improves response times for fleet operators. It also supports compliance and traceability expectations that are rising across the battery supply chain. Meanwhile, domestic output can help align cell availability with US manufacturing cadence.

Robotaxi scale makes cell reliability a strategic differentiator

Robotaxis push batteries through frequent charge cycles and demanding duty patterns. Therefore, performance consistency and safety validation matter as much as nameplate energy density. Meanwhile, the Hayward facility’s capacity to assemble more than 10,000 robotaxis per year raises the stakes for stable cell allocation.

Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020, and the business now targets multi-city growth. Service expansion is planned for Austin, Texas and Miami, Florida. As a result, long-term battery contracting can de-risk rollout timelines and underpin commercial reliability.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This robotaxi battery supply deal shows how autonomy timelines increasingly hinge on battery procurement. However, scaling from Japan supply to Kansas output will test manufacturing readiness. Therefore, execution on localization will separate pilots from durable urban fleets.

Uber Lucid Nuro EV robotaxi to launch in US, scale globally

Uber & Lucid

Uber will deploy a new robotaxi fleet with Lucid and Nuro starting next year. The program launches in a major US city using Lucid Gravity SUVs. The Uber Lucid Nuro EV robotaxi targets scale and lower downtime with a 450-mile range.

Technology, launch, and scale

Lucid, Nuro, and Uber formed an exclusive robotaxi program for Uber's platform. Uber or partners will operate at least 20,000 vehicles over six years. Nuro Driver provides Level 4 autonomy for the Gravity model. The first prototype already operates autonomously at Las Vegas proving grounds.

Lucid selected Gravity to maximize availability with 450 miles per charge. Longer range reduces charging downtime during peak ride demand. Therefore, utilization improves and unit economics may strengthen. However, safety validation and regulatory approvals remain critical gates.

Investment, infrastructure, and supply chain

Uber plans to invest hundreds of millions in Lucid and Nuro. The companies aim to build fast charging and service infrastructure. Meanwhile, Uber Lucid Nuro EV robotaxi deployment could pressure battery supply chains. Demand for high-nickel cathodes and aluminum body materials may rise.

Global rollout hinges on scaling autonomy and local compliance. As a result, deployment will expand beyond the United States in stages. The Uber Lucid Nuro EV robotaxi may catalyze urban fleet electrification. Success could spur similar alliances among automakers and platforms.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This program pairs a long-range EV with mature Level 4 stacks to chase uptime. Watch local permitting, charger density, and service models as scale grows. Procurement discipline will matter if component inflation reappears during the ramp.

Tesla LFP cell production stays on track as US cathode push advances

Tesla LFP cell

Tesla LFP cell production remains on schedule as the company advances US lithium refining and cathode output. The plan prioritizes onshore battery materials and the first domestic LFP cells this year. The strategy targets energy storage markets alongside vehicle electrification.

Refining, cathode and storage milestones

Tesla said its LFP cell factory in Sparks, Nevada is nearing completion. The company began operating a lithium hydroxide refinery near Corpus Christi in December 2024. Energy storage deployments rose 2% to 9.6GWh in the recent quarter. Tesla also deployed the first Megapacks from its Shanghai factory. The company said paired solar and Megapack systems are cost-competitive with fossil power.

Demand, profitability and policy headwinds

Quarterly deliveries fell to 384,122 EVs, from 443,956 a year earlier. Second-quarter profit slipped 16% to $1.2bn on lower volumes and pricing. Tesla launched a Robotaxi service in Austin and introduced Model Y in India. The company reported market share declines across the US, Canada, Europe and China. Tesla LFP cell production remains central to its US supply chain plans.

However, tariff and policy shifts are pressuring margins. Tesla estimated about $300mn in added tariff costs this year. Two-thirds affect the automotive segment and the rest the energy business. The company cited challenges from the July 4 tax and energy law and tariffs. The $7,500 US tax credit repeal by quarter-end limited domestic vehicle supply. Management said early credit expirations also weigh on residential storage demand. Tesla LFP cell production is intended to offset import exposure over time.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Tesla’s domestic cathode and LFP build-out lowers geopolitical and tariff risk across its battery supply chain. Watch commissioning pace in Sparks and ramp efficiency at Corpus Christi for cost traction. Policy volatility remains the swing factor for US demand and profitability.

Chinese EV LiDAR Chip Demand Surges on ADAS Race

EV LiDAR

Chinese EV LiDAR chip demand is accelerating as ADAS becomes a mainstream differentiator in China. Chinese EV LiDAR chip demand expanded with EVs exceeding half of new sales in 1H25. Therefore, Chinese EV LiDAR chip demand will keep rising as LiDAR extends beyond premium models. LiDAR, radar, and cameras now scale across mid-range vehicles. Premium 1,550nm systems lift semiconductor intensity per car. Meanwhile, 905nm GaAs units remain cost leaders for mass ADAS.

Materials Impact: Gallium, Indium, Germanium and InP

LiDAR growth raises near-term gallium needs through 905nm GaAs emitters. However, 1,550nm adoption pulls indium and phosphide demand via InGaAs and InP lasers. Germanium also gains in SiGe receivers and select SWIR optics. Silver telluride could appear in photodetectors, from a low base. As a result, upstream pricing power may shift to high-purity minor metals and epitaxial wafers. Apparent adoption reached 17% of Chinese EVs by June. Unit growth will compound material consumption through 2026.

Supply Chain and Capacity Ramp Inside China

RoboSense surpassed one million automotive LiDAR units by June. Hesai installed new lines and targets two million units a year by end-2025. The firm won designs on 20 models for 2026 launches. BYD will deploy God’s Eye ADAS across all new models. Two variants include LiDAR for wider feature access. Pony AI’s seventh-generation Robotaxi uses four Hesai AT128 sensors per car. Each unit integrates 128 VCSELs, using InP, GaAs, or GaN. GlobalFoundries reports 36% automotive growth and pursues “China for China.” That strategy supports local ADAS, laser drivers, and radar SoCs.

The Metalnomist Commentary

LiDAR’s shift from flagship to mainstream rewrites the automotive semiconductor bill. Watch 1,550nm penetration; it will set the slope for InP and InGaAs demand. Export permits and wafer capacity could become the hidden bottlenecks in 2026.