Autonomous-driving-technology startup, Aurora Innovation Inc., has announced a new long-term strategic partnership with Toyota Motor Corp. and its supplier Denso Corp. The goal of the partnership is to produce autonomous vehicles specifically for ride-hailing networks, such as Uber, using the Aurora Driver suite of hardware, software, and sensors.
In their announcement, Aurora said the new partnership will bring its engineering teams together with Toyota’s to develop and test driverless-capable vehicles equipped with the Aurora Driver. The Toyota Sienna will be the first such vehicle out of the gate, with design, production, and testing to be started by the end of this year. By the end of 2021, the partners expect to have designed, built, and begun testing an initial fleet of these Siennas near their areas of development.
Aurora says the new partnership will lay the groundwork for the mass-production, launch, and support of these vehicles with Toyota on ride-hailing networks over the next few years. The long-term agreement also includes potential mass production of key autonomous driving components with Denso and a comprehensive services solution with Toyota to enable large-scale sales and vehicle support including financing, insurance, and maintenance.
“Toyota has an unparalleled legacy, engineering expertise, leadership, and ability to deliver high-quality, affordable, and reliable vehicles,” said Chris Urmson, CEO of Aurora Innovation Inc. “They’re also the preferred vehicle brand for transporting riders on ride-hailing networks, so we’re excited and honored to work with them to unlock driverless mobility services with the Aurora Driver. Our development work on highway driving to support our first commercial product, a driverless truck, will also be critical for safely moving people, as a significant fraction of ride-share bookings today require the ability to drive over 50 mph.”
“Toyota is dedicated to creating and realizing mobility for all by focusing on technology that will move people safely and responsibly, a vision Aurora shares with us,” said Keiji Yamamoto, Toyota’s Operating Officer and President of Toyota’s Connected Company. “By combining our expertise and know-how in vehicle control systems, mass-production, connected car technology, and our advanced safety support systems with Aurora’s industry-leading approach to self-driving technology, we aim to commercialize and deliver safe, high-quality, and affordable autonomous ride-sharing vehicles and services.”
The announcement is one in a series of moves by Aurora in recent months. In December, the company announced it had acquired Uber’s self-driving unit, the Advanced Technologies Group. The deal included a strategic partnership between Aurora and Uber that connects its technology to one of the world’s leading ride-hailing platforms and strengthens its position to deliver the Aurora Driver broadly.
Last month, Aurora announced the Aurora Driver would first reach the market via a new partnership with PACCAR, the producers of Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks. Kenworth T680 and Peterbilt 579 trucks using the Aurora Driver are expected to be deployed in North America in the next several years.
Bloomberg reported Aurora is already testing its autonomous driving technology on public roads in California, Pennsylvania, and Texas, with an initial focus on completing long-haul, commercial trips.
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Aurora’s Uber ATG acquisition advances its self-driving mission
