The brief
- Launched paid driverless freight between Dallas and Houston on 1 May 2025.
- Runs driverless routes including Fort Worth–El Paso, El Paso–Phoenix and Dallas–Laredo, with about 30 trucks.
- Next-gen hardware on International LT trucks is due to run driverless with no observer from Q2 2026.
Technical approach
FirstLight FMCW lidar
Aurora's own lidar measures each point's speed directly and sees far enough ahead to stop an 80,000 lb truck at highway speed.
Learned models with rules
AI driving is combined with explicit road rules, so the truck's behaviour can be tested and explained in a safety case.
Public safety case
Aurora publishes a step-by-step argument for why its trucks are safe enough before removing drivers.
Aurora Innovation, one program
Updated 17d ago
Research & demos
- Dec 2024
Laid out the argument and evidence Aurora uses to decide its trucks are safe to run without a driver.
Open technical problems
- Hardware cost and durabilityActive research
Sensors and computers must survive a million miles of shaking and weather on trucks while getting cheaper.
- Night, rain and dustActive research
Trucking only pays if trucks run around the clock in all weather, and each condition needs testing.
Upcoming catalysts
- Dec2026About 200 driverless trucks in operation by year-endAurora Driver for trucksby ~3 mo
- 2027Hirschbach begins taking delivery of 500 Aurora-driven trucksAurora Driver for trucksby ~15 mo
Peers
Company & funding
- Listed
- AUR (opens google.com)NASDAQ
- HQ
- US
- Founded
- 2017
Partners & customers
- Partner
Peterbilt and Kenworth truck platforms
- Partner
Volvo VNL Autonomous trucks
- Partner
LT Series trucks for next-gen hardware
- Supplier
Future mass-produced Aurora Driver hardware
- Customer
Driverless freight lanes in Texas (2026)
- Customer
Early driverless freight customer
People
- Chris Urmson (opens en.wikipedia.org)Co-founder and CEO
- Drew BagnellCo-founder and Chief Scientist