Aurora

Aurora doesn’t want to be a ‘multiple miracle company.’ A single miracle will do, namely autonomous driving. Aurora has no desire to build the car. It focuses efforts on creating the artificial driver and leaves building the cars to others. Focus and independence also entail neutrality, which customers appreciate. 

An accumulation of decisions has built Aurora’s competitive position. Its Driver-as-a-Service (DaaS) business model, strong strategic partnerships (including Volvo, PACCAR, Toyota, and Uber Freight), and its technology all serve as differentiators versus competitors. These qualities, along with a consolidation of competitors, a best-in-class leadership team and a deliberate and methodological ecosystem, sets Aurora up to be a leader in the autonomous market. 

Aurora’s growth initially targets heavy-duty trucks with plans to expand into commercial and passenger vehicles. It aims to revolutionize the $4 trillion global truck freight market by addressing inefficiencies, such as the need for driver breaks and the rising costs of insurance and operations.  Aurora's autonomous trucks, capable of operating 24/7, promise to enhance fuel efficiency, reduce accidents, and address driver shortages. (An additional 1.2 million truck drivers will be needed in America over the next decade. Large fleets have an annual turnover of 90%.) Trucking is just the first focus, as Aurora ‘Driver’ will operate multiple vehicle types. Aurora plans to generate high margins and returns through its asset-light operational model. Focusing on DaaS, it charges a fee per mile driven, leveraging partnerships with industry leaders to scale efficiently.  

Aurora is in trucking pole position. Autonomous trucking and robotaxi services offer an opportunity to make transportation safer, smarter, and more accessible.

Aurora was founded in 2017 by a trio with impressive CVs in the autonomous world. Chris Urmson, Sterling Anderson, and Drew Bagnell. Prior to founding Aurora, Chris Urmson helped build Google's self-driving program and served as Chief Technology Officer of the group. Sterling Anderson led the design, development, and launch of the award-winning Tesla Model X, and led the team that delivered Tesla Autopilot. Drew Bagnell worked over two decades at the intersection of ML and robotics in industrial and academic roles. 

The company showcased on this page is part of a diversified portfolio. The commentary should not be taken as advice on an individual stock.