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Aurora, autonomous truck company, targeting profitability
CNBC • • business
Key Points:
- Aurora Innovation is operating fully autonomous semi trucks on busy Texas highways I-45 and I-20, using lasers, radar, and cameras to navigate safely without a driver.
- The company currently has 20 driverless trucks on the road and plans to expand its fleet to 200 by the end of this year, aiming to offer more efficient and lower-cost freight transport.
- Analysts estimate autonomous fleets could be significantly more profitable than human-driven ones, with costs per mile potentially much lower due to savings on driver wages and benefits.
- Despite the cost advantages, some industry experts question whether shipping firms will fully replace drivers, citing the additional roles drivers play beyond simply operating the truck.
- Aurora has logged over 3 million miles of testing since 2021, with safety operators initially present, and aims to achieve positive free cash flow by 2028 after substantial investment losses.
