Aurora is acquiring Uber's self-driving unit, Advanced Technologies Group

08 December 2020 | David Young

Aurora has a mission to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology and in announcing the Uber self-driving unit, Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) acquisition, plans to will accelerate its first product safely, quickly, and broadly

Aurora is acquiring Uber's self-driving unit, Advanced Technologies Group

"By adding the people and technology of Uber's Advanced Technologies Group to the incredible group we've already assembled at Aurora, we're shifting the landscape of the automated vehicle space," said Chris Urmson, co-founder and CEO of Aurora. "With the addition of ATG, Aurora will have an incredibly strong team and technology, a clear path to several markets, and the resources to deliver. Simply put, Aurora will be the company best positioned to deliver the self-driving products necessary to make transportation and logistics safer, more accessible, and less expensive."

The team at ATG brings expertise, passion, and determination to delivering self-driving vehicles safely to the road. ATG, like Aurora, has been heads down, focused on building. While their advances in software, hardware, product design, and more have flown under the radar, they have made tremendous headway on many fronts. They are committed to rigorous testing and have built a strong safety culture. With their technical prowess in both research and practical applications, ATG will strengthen and accelerate the first Aurora Driver applications for heavy-duty trucks while allowing us to continue and accelerate our work on light-vehicle products.

In addition to acquiring ATG, the company has also announced a strategic partnership with Uber that connects our technology to the world's leading ride-hailing platform and strengthens our position to deliver the Aurora Driver broadly. Autonomous trucking is the first target, and the relationship with Uber puts them in the position to be a leading player in both autonomous trucking and passenger mobility. In support of Aurora's partnership with Uber, Uber is investing $400 million in Aurora and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is joining our Board.

"Few technologies hold as much promise to improve people's lives with safe, accessible, and environmentally friendly transportation as self-driving vehicles. For the last five years, our phenomenal team at ATG has been at the forefront of this effort—and in joining forces with Aurora, they are now in pole position to deliver on that promise even faster," said Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber CEO. "I'm looking forward to working with Chris, and to bringing the Aurora Driver to the Uber network in the years ahead."

Source: Aurora