Aurora Innovation has now reportedly officially launched its commercial self-driving truck service in Texas, marking a significant milestone as the first company to deploy driverless heavy-duty trucks for public use in the U.S.
This launch comes after a delay from its initially planned 2024 debut, which was pushed to April 2025.
The service began operations this week, transporting freight between Dallas and Houston. Aurora’s launch customers include Hirschbach Motor Lines and Uber Freight, with the company already completing 1,200 miles with a single self-driving truck.
Aurora plans to expand its fleet to include “tens of self-driving trucks” and aims to extend its service to El Paso and Phoenix by the end of 2025.
Currently, Aurora also operates over 30 supervised autonomous trucks, handling more than 100 commercial freight loads weekly.
The company intends to own, maintain, and insure its trucks while collaborating with Volvo Trucks and Paccar to develop self-driving vehicles for mass production.
Customers are expected to purchase these trucks directly from manufacturers starting in 2027.
Despite the promising launch, Aurora faces challenges due to a forecasted decline in freight volumes in the U.S., influenced by recent tariffs and rising operational costs in the trucking industry.
The company is working to prove the safety and reliability of its driverless trucks while engaging with policymakers to create favorable regulations for expansion.
Aurora is also navigating regulatory hurdles, having recently sued federal safety regulators over safety requirements that complicate its fully driverless operations.
As it continues to test and refine its technology, Aurora is positioned to play a significant role in the future of autonomous trucking.
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