Aurora Expands Self-Driving Truck Route to El Paso

Aurora Expands Driverless Truck Route Network

Aurora has implemented a 600-mile autonomous route connecting Fort Worth and El Paso. This represents the second driverless corridor established by the autonomous vehicle technology firm for its self-driving trucks.

New Route and Milestones

The expansion was revealed on Tuesday, coinciding with the release of Aurora’s third-quarter financial results. The company has now accumulated over 100,000 driverless miles on public roads utilizing a fleet of five self-driving trucks. This achievement signifies a key step forward since the launch of its commercial operations in May.

A further expansion to Phoenix is planned before the year concludes, representing the company’s next publicly stated objective.

Initial Commercial Service and Customer Base

Aurora’s initial commercial deployment commenced with a route between Dallas and Houston. Early adopters of this service included Hirschbach Motor Lines and Uber Freight.

The newly established Fort Worth-to-El Paso route is of sufficient length to attract significant interest from transportation providers. Aurora points to ongoing staffing shortages and the logistical challenges of completing a ten-hour journey within a single workday as key factors driving demand.

Customers utilizing the El Paso route currently include both Hirschbach Motor Lines and Russell Transport.

Next-Generation Hardware Details

Aurora also provided updates regarding its forthcoming hardware generation, manufactured by Fabrinet. This new hardware is currently being integrated into Volvo VNL Autonomous trucks.

The company anticipates the production of hundreds of trucks equipped with this next-generation hardware by 2026.

Performance and Cost Improvements

According to Aurora, the new hardware offers enhanced durability and performance while simultaneously reducing overall costs by 50%. The updated lidar system boasts a detection range of 1,000 meters, doubling the capability of the current generation.

Improvements have also been made to the sensor cleaning system, designed to ensure reliable operation even in adverse weather conditions.

Industry Collaboration

“The integration of Aurora’s next-generation hardware with the Volvo VNL Autonomous on the pilot line at our New River Valley facility marks an industry-first partnership and highlights the meaningful progress we are making together,” stated Nils Jaeger, president of Volvo Autonomous Solutions.

“By manufacturing trucks purpose-built for autonomy, we’re moving beyond prototypes and creating scalable solutions that are ready to meet the demands of a modern supply chain.”

Future Hardware Development

This next-generation hardware will precede a more comprehensive suite of components, jointly developed with Aumovio (formerly Continental). Production of this higher-volume hardware is scheduled to begin in 2027.

Aurora plans to manufacture up to “tens of thousands of self-driving trucks” when its manufacturing partnership with Aumovio commences in 2027.