Aurora Innovation Launches First Fully Driverless Semi-Truck in Texas
Aurora Innovation Inc. has successfully launched a fully driverless semi-truck on public highways in Texas, marking a major breakthrough in autonomous transportation.
This milestone represents a significant advancement in the self-driving vehicle industry and positions Aurora as a leading player in commercial autonomous trucking technology.
What Happened?
Aurora’s self-driving freight service, Aurora Horizon, is now operating without a human behind the wheel.
The company’s Class 8 autonomous trucks have begun making customer deliveries along the busy Dallas-Houston route, completing over 1,200 miles completely driver-free.
The trucks are powered by the Aurora Driver, a system that uses cameras, radar, and FirstLight Lidar to navigate up to 200 miles at speeds of 75 mph.
These sensors help the truck detect obstacles, avoid collisions, and operate safely—even at night or in complex traffic situations.
Industry partners like Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines welcomed the news.
Following the announcement, Aurora’s stock rose 11.48%, trading at $7.67 as of 10:25 a.m. ET on May 2, 2025.
Safety Measures
To prepare for this launch, Aurora worked closely with safety regulators, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Texas Department of Transportation.
The company also released a Driverless Safety Report detailing its approach to safe operations.
Future Plans
Aurora plans to extend its driverless freight operations to El Paso, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona by the end of 2025, aiming to expand its footprint in long-haul autonomous trucking.
Background
Aurora Innovation Inc. Founded in 2017 by former leaders from Uber, Tesla, and Waymo, Aurora initially aimed for a 2024 rollout but delayed deployment to fine-tune its system for real-world conditions, including navigating construction zones and surface streets.
Over the past four years, Aurora conducted more than 10,000 supervised deliveries and drove over 3 million autonomous miles, mostly in Texas.
The trucks demonstrated capabilities such as detecting pedestrians in the dark and predicting red-light runners, gaining the trust of major partners like Continental, Volvo, and Uber.
News Gist
Aurora Innovation has launched its first fully driverless semi-truck on Texas highways, completing over 1,200 miles between Dallas and Houston.
Powered by advanced sensors, the Aurora Horizon system operates without a human driver.
The milestone boosted Aurora’s stock by 11.48% and drew strong industry support and regulatory backing.