• Aurora, an autonomous vehicle technology startup, has partnered with trucking company US Xpress to deploy Aurora’s self-driving technology “Aurora Driver” for the latter’s operations. Through the partnership, the companies intend to refine Aurora’s autonomous trucking service “Aurora Horizon.”

• As per the deal, Aurora will utilize the expertise of US Xpress’s digitally enabled fleet division “Variant” to identify the most effective deployment strategies. The companies will also assess the possibility of integrating application programming interface (API) into Varient’s platform to enhance dispatching and routing of trucks once Aurora commercializes its autonomous trucking service (expected by 2023).

<ul><li> Analyst QuickTake: Today’s news adds to Aurora’s rising deployment partnerships. Such recent deals include partnerships with Uber Freight (December 2021) and FedEx (September 2021). In addition to Aurora, US Xpress is working with its peer autonomous trucking company TuSimple as an investor, advisor, and a customer—making Aurora its second autonomous trucking partner.</ul>