Uber and Aurora announced long-term driverless truck deal

Uber Freight and Aurora Innovation have announced a long-term driverless truck deal with automatic technology. Uber Freight focuses on connecting shippers with truck drivers to transport goods. However, Aurora focuses on developing autonomous vehicle technology.

This is a multi-layer partnership in which Aurora’s autonomous driving technology will be available on the Uber Freight network until 2030.

They are launching a program called Premier Autonomy. It allows trucking companies to use Aurora’s self-driving technology, called the Aurora Driver.

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Aurora will have access to shipping clients as it gets ready to introduce its fully autonomous commercial service later this year under Premier Autonomy. Uber Freight’s clients who ship goods worth over $18 billion, will benefit from this new technology.

Aurora will offer this technology through a subscription service to shipping clients. Members of Premier Autonomy will use Aurora’s driverless technology for over 1 billion miles until 2023 and integrate it smoothly with the Uber Freight system.

This deal is an extended version of a previous commercial experiment in which Aurora transported goods between Dallas and Houston using the Uber Freight network. Aurora’s President Ossa Fisher said this deal will allow many trucking companies to access driverless trucks that would not be able to otherwise.

It comes amid a tough time for Uber Freight due to several factors. It includes high fuel prices, falling customer demand, and rising goods prices.

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As a result of falling Uber Freight rates, thousands of trucking companies have closed, including Convoy. Jeff Bezos supported Convoy. Uber Freight’s revenue in the first quarter decreased to 8% year over. It remained constant which negatively impacted trends of falling revenue per load.

Following that, Uber Freight and Aurora announced a long-term driverless truck deal. Uber Freight intends to provide its shipping clients with access to technology. It promises to address several current trucking problems following this deal.

It includes labor shortages and unused trucks. Hence, Uber Freight is probably waiting for a return on its investment in self-driving technology of Aurora Innovation. It hopes to boost its revenue following the Uber-Aurora deal.