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FedEx Corp. and autonomous vehicle startup Aurora Innovation Inc. are launching a pilot program for autonomous truck shipments between Dallas and Houston, the companies on Wednesday announcing what they called a one-of-a-kind partnership involving the two companies and a truck maker .
“This is an exciting and unprecedented industry collaboration that will aim to improve the logistics industry through safer and more efficient freight transportation,” said Rebecca Yeung, vice president of technology at cutting edge and innovation at FedEx FDX,
in a press release.
The initial fleet will include a “modest” number of self-driving trucks and will use standby drivers for safety at first, an Aurora spokeswoman said. The trucks will make the nearly 500-mile round trip along the I-45 corridor several times a week, according to FedEx.
“At the end of 2023, we will launch our trucking business and move loads autonomously between terminals without a security driver,” Aurora said. The Original Equipment Manufacturing Partner for this pilot is Truck Manufacturer PACCAR Inc. PCAR,
This is just San Francisco-based Aurora’s latest partnership on the road to commercializing its autonomous driving technology – and going public.
The company said this year that it is working with Toyota MotorTM,
North America and parts supplier Denso Corp. 6902,
on the introduction of autonomous vehicles to the masses and on carpooling; unveiled a prototype Toyota Sienna minivan for this effort with Uber Technologies Inc. UBER,
; and partners with Volvo VOLV.B,
on autonomous trucks.
Last year, Uber moved its autonomous driving business Advanced Technologies Group to Aurora in a deal involving the transport giant’s $ 400 million investment in the startup.
Aurora is expected to go public this year as part of a merger with specialist acquisition company Reinvent Technology Partners Y RTPY,
See: Aurora to go public in SPAC deal, promises autonomous vehicle by 2023
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