Aurora plans self-driving trucks in harsh weather after launch

Aurora's driverless trucks to tackle tough weather post Texas launch

Robert Besser
14 Apr 2025, 05:24 GMT+10

Aurora plans self-driving trucks in harsh weather after launch

Aurora Innovation says its driverless trucks will eventually be equipped to handle tough weather conditions, but only after their commercial debut in Texas later this year
The company confirmed this week that its self-driving trucks will begin operating commercially in Texas in April and will expand to routes in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in 2025
The trucks will follow local speed limits between 25 and 75 miles per hour

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania: Aurora Innovation says its driverless trucks will eventually be equipped to handle tough weather conditions, but only after their commercial debut in Texas later this year.

The company confirmed this week that its self-driving trucks will begin operating commercially in Texas in April and will expand to routes in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in 2025. The trucks will follow local speed limits between 25 and 75 miles per hour.

Aurora said it plans to broaden the operational design domain (ODD) for its autonomous vehicles to include harsh weather after the launch. ODD refers to the defined conditions—such as geography and weather—in which self-driving vehicles can safely function.

The trucks will be designed to operate in a variety of weather conditions, including suburban and urban settings, dense traffic, and highway construction zones marked by cones and barriers. They will also run both day and night.

Aurora said its development process includes rigorous testing, such as virtual simulations, closed-course evaluations, and ongoing monitoring on public roads before the service goes live.

Earlier this year, the Uber-backed company entered into a long-term agreement with Nvidia and German auto supplier Continental to support the deployment of its driverless truck fleet.