Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
    • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Focus on Technology
August 04, 2022 05:23 PM

Aurora will prioritize autonomous trucking over robotaxis

AV startup Aurora Innovation will make autonomous trucking a priority over robotaxi development.

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    AAurora-Truck.jpg

    Aurora's priority is showing up in the types of vehicles its has on public roads: 20 autonomous Class 8 tractors.

    Self-driving tech startup Aurora Innovation is working with several partners, including Toyota, Paccar's Peterbilt brand and Volvo Trucks, to develop self-driving technology for trucks and robotaxis.

    The company also has autonomous freight hauling pilot programs with FedEx, Uber Freight and motor carriers Werner and Schneider National.

    "We are going to be putting more emphasis on trucking and making sure that product makes it to market," Chris Urmson, Aurora's CEO and co-founder, said during an earnings conference call on Wednesday analysts and investors.

    "We still see value in the ride-share market," he said. "But trucks will be the first aspect of our strategy."

    The priority is showing up in the types of vehicles Aurora has on public roads: 20 autonomous Class 8 tractors and eight self-driving Toyota Sienna minivans.

    The company also is ramping up freight hauling. Aurora averaged 14 loads per week in the second quarter. That will rise to 40 by the end of this year and 100 in late 2023. Aurora's freight operations are on two Texas routes: Dallas/Houston and Fort Worth/El Paso. The company plans to gradually extend and add routes and increase the volume of goods hauled.

    Bigger loss

    The company said on Wednesday that its second-quarter loss widened more than sixfold as it logged a large impairment charge and continued to ramp up spending on autonomous heavy-duty trucks and robotaxis.

    The Pittsburgh company said its net loss widened to $1.2 billion from $182 million in the same period a year earlier.

    The loss included a $1 billion charge because a large drop in market capitalization triggered a noncash expense to reduce the carrying value of goodwill. Aurora's market value has plunged from $13 billion to $3 billion since the start of the year.

    Absent that, Aurora spent $184 million on R&D, its main operating expense. That compared with $160 million in the same period a year earlier.

    The company reported $21 million in revenue as it launched autonomous trucking as a service for a handful of pilot clients. Aurora had no revenue in the second quarter of 2021.

    Sufficient cash reserves

    Despite the significant loss, Aurora CFO Richard Tame said the company has sufficient reserves to get it well into 2024, including $1.4 billion in short-term investments. Aurora also is making enough headway on its road map to autonomous driving commercialization to attract new investment, he said.

    "We expect progress along the road map will support us being able to access the capital markets when the time is right," Tame said. "We have the ability to wait and see what's happening in the market."

    Tame said Aurora expects to increase its revenue in 2023 and 2024 as the company scales the number of trucks in its development program. "From our perspective, we don't expect to show commercial revenue until we have vehicles without operators," he said.

    Aurora has a safety driver aboard its trucks but will pull the human at some future point.

    "Our product is not meant to pull loads with human drivers; it's to have an autonomously enabled platform without a human driver," Tame said.

    Consolidation

    Given the expense of developing an autonomous driving system and the current economic climate, Urmson expects consolidation among self-driving startups.

    "We see it as helping clear the playing field," he said.

    "It's totally appropriate in a new industry for there to be lots of players exploring the space," he said. "But those of us who know what we're doing will be able to make progress, deliver the technology, execute on our mission and create shareholder value."

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    VW's potential battery IPO attracts high investor interest, top shareholder says
    Recommended for You
    VW Battery production
    VW's potential battery IPO attracts high investor interest, top shareholder says
    cupra-born_01.jpg
    VW's Cupra brand weighs entering U.S. market with larger EVs
    The Ford Mach-E
    Ford expects to lose $3B on EVs this year
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
        • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us