Aurora Innovation has launched its second-generation driverless trucks and found a manufacturing partner to help meet demand.
The company plans to deploy the new fleet across its commercial network, which currently encompasses 10 driverless routes throughout the U.S. Sun Belt, to serve additional customers.
Aurora said it made history when it deployed Class 8 trucks powered by the Aurora Driver, its self-driving system, on public roads last year. As of the end of June, the Aurora Driver has completed nearly 440,000 driverless miles. The company’s route expansion is also driving commercial momentum, underscored by Hirschbach Motor Lines's recent plan to purchase 500 Aurora Driver-powered trucks.
The new fleet, based on the International LT Series vehicle, is also powered by Aurora’s next-generation hardware. This hardware is more powerful and built to last 1 million miles. Prior to launch, Aurora closed its Safety Case, its well-established bar for operations on public roads without a person behind the wheel, for the new truck and hardware.
Roush, a product development supplier, is installing redundant systems and integrating Aurora’s next-generation hardware into the new trucks at a production facility dedicated to Aurora. The companies have also formalized an upfit process, positioning Roush to reach an annual production run-rate of 1,000 Aurora trucks later this year.
