Another California startup is expanding its operations into North Texas, boosting the state’s already growing autonomous driving ecosystem.
Palo Alto-based self-driving startup Aurora announced plans to expand its testing and development programs in the Metroplex in a Medium post. The company said in the coming weeks a small fleet of its vehicles will be hitting the DFW streets, due to the region's large logistics market and open regulatory environment.
“We’ll be testing commercial routes that sit at the center of key logistics delivery corridors,” the company wrote in the post. “We have always said we’d pick a path to market that allows us to make the biggest impact the fastest…. Texas’ role as a crucial state in the movement of goods makes it a natural place for Aurora’s expanded testing.”
The move into the North Texas market in the next few weeks will see Aurora begin testing autonomous vehicle hardware and software starting in a small fleet of Chrysler Pacifica minivans and eventually Class 8 tractor trailer trucks. The startup plans for its first commercial service to be in the trucking industry, “where the market is largest today, the unit economics are best, and the level of service requirements is most accommodating.”
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The move also means a few more tech jobs in the region. According to Aurora’s website, the company is currently hiring two autonomous vehicle operations specialists and a servicing engineering technician in Dallas.
Since its launch, Aurora has raised $690 million, according to Crunchbase, with backers including Index Ventures, Greylock, Amazon and Shell Ventures.
In early July, Aurora debuted is FirstLight Lidar, which can help a vehicle’s perception system see and track objects. The tech will be integrated into its vehicles operating in the Metroplex. Its work in the state helps add route navigation experience to Aurora’s capabilities, as it plans for a broader highway rollout.
Aurora said its chose to enter Texas because of the vast expanses of public roads and pro-business attitude. It also notes that the state “understands that self-driving technology.” Earlier this month, San Diego startup TuSimple announced plans to create a shipping terminal in North Texas for its fleet of self-driving trucks, as part of a four-year plan to launch a coast-to-coast network for autonomous shipping. In addition, Ford plans to test self-driving cars in Austin in an effort to eventually launch a public autonomous car service – however, those plans have been delayed due to the pandemic.
There has been a renewed interest in autonomous trucking, as the Covid-19 pandemic has many companies looking for ways to increase contactless options while decreasing human interaction. However, with it comes concerns that it could create more job loss at a time when unemployment has spiked due to economic uncertainty.
“Of course, driving in Texas has specific requirements and nuances, as does trucking. But when it comes to building self-driving technology, progress is additive,” Aurora wrote. “We’re excited to hit the road in Texas.”
