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Aurora\u2019s next-generation hardware is being integrated with multiple platforms, including the International LT Series, which is slated for driverless deployment without an observer in Q2 2026. [Image: Aurora]<\/p>\n
Aurora Innovation\u2014which already operates commercial self-driving truck runs on I-45 between Dallas and Houston\u2014has launched a second driverless route from Fort Worth to El Paso. The Pittsburgh-based company\u2019s second North Texas \u201clane\u201d is rolling out as the company surpasses 100,000 driverless miles on public roads, amid plans to deploy its next-gen hardware on \u201chundreds\u201d of additional autonomous trucks in 2026.<\/p>\n
Aurora (Nasdaq: AUR) is launching the 600-mile Fort Worth-El Paso route six months after it inaugurated fully driverless commercial trucking runs<\/a> between Dallas and Houston\u2014without a single human on board. (The company later put an \u201cobserver\u201d back behind the wheel at the request of PACCAR, its OEM truck partner, and an observer will also be \u201cfar back from the wheel\u201d on the Fort Worth-El Paso PACCAR truck-based runs. But the trucks are still \u201cdriverless,\u201d a spokesperson confirmed, since they are being 100% guided by the company\u2019s next-gen, autonomous Aurora Driver system, which is fully responsible for all driving tasks.)<\/p>\n Customers on the El Paso route include Hirschbach Motor Lines, an early adopter of the Aurora Driver, Russell Transport, and others. With five driverless trucks now regularly delivering customer freight in Texas, Aurora says it \u201ccontinues to maintain its perfect driverless on-time and safety record.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking forward into 2026, Aurora says its next-gen hardware is being integrated into multiple truck platforms, including the Volvo VNL and \u00a0International\u00a0 LT Series Class 8 vehicles (formerly Navistar). Those \u201chundreds\u201d of new self-driving trucks will be deployed without an observer in the cab, a spokesperson noted.<\/p>\n \u201cSix months out from launch, we\u2019re achieving more industry-firsts, expanding quickly, and paving the way to deploy hundreds of trucks next year,\u201d Aurora Co-Founder and CEO Chris Urmson said in a statement. \u201cExpanding to El Paso, notching over 100,000 driverless miles, and integrating our new hardware with multiple truck platforms extends our strong lead.\u201d<\/p>\n Fort Worth to El Paso is a long, tiresome haul<\/p>\n Aurora says the long, flat, often featureless Fort Worth-El Paso route is ideal for its driverless trucks, since staffing challenges and the difficulty of completing the 10-hour haul in a single day \u201cmake the route daunting for carriers.\u201d<\/p>\n As opposed to human truck drivers, who have to make mandated stops for rest on long hauls, the Aurora Driver enables \u201creliable, around-the-clock operations,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n Next-gen hardware unveiled, with more on the way<\/p>\n Aurora has also unveiled new, next-gen hardware for its autonomous trucks. Manufactured by Fabrinet, the tech is designed to reduce overall cost by half while boosting performance and durability. Features include a new generation of FirstLight Lidar, which can detect objects 1,000 meters away\u2014twice the distance of the current generation. And to help enable all-weather operation, enhanced sensor cleaning allows the Aurora Driver to operate reliably in harsher weather conditions, the company said. Additionally, the new hardware aims to deliver increased reliability\u2014it\u2019s \u201cbuilt to last over a million miles.\u201d<\/p>\n That next-gen hardware precedes the \u201chighly-scalable\u201d hardware being jointly developed with AUMOVIO (formerly Continental), which is slated for production in 2027 and is expected to enable the deployment of \u201ctens of thousands of trucks,\u201d Aurora said.<\/p>\n Nils Jaeger, president of Volvo Autonomous Solutions, said the integration of Aurora\u2019s next-generation hardware with the Volvo VNL Autonomous on the pilot line of Volvo\u2019s New River Valley facility \u201cmarks an industry-first partnership and highlights the meaningful progress we are making together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy manufacturing trucks purpose-built for autonomy,\u201d Jaeger added, \u201cwe\u2019re moving beyond prototypes and creating scalable solutions that are ready to meet the demands of a modern supply chain.\u201d<\/p>\n Aurora said PACCAR continues to test its autonomy-enabled truck platform at its facilities. Aurora then plans to integrate the platform with the highly-scalable hardware being co-developed with AUMOVIO.<\/p>\n Testing new fleet on a closed test track<\/p>\n Auroa called adding the International LT Series vehicles \u201ckey to providing customers with greater driverless capacity in 2026.\u201d The company said it has successfully begun testing the new fleet at its closed test track. Upon completion of a closed safety case for these trucks, Aurora plans to haul freight without a partner-requested observer in Q2 2026\u2014and \u201calready has customer interest\u201d for this capacity.<\/p>\n \u201cAs an early adopter, we embrace the opportunity to help define the future of freight technology,\u201d Richard Stocking, president & CEO of Hirschbach Motor Lines, said in a statement. \u201cIntegrating an additional fleet strengthens our driverless capacity\u2014a vital advancement in ensuring we meet customer demand and deliver operational excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss what\u2019s next. Subscribe\u00a0to\u00a0Dallas\u00a0Innovates.<\/p>\n Track Dallas-Fort Worth\u2019s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \tR E A D\u00a0\u00a0 N E X T\t<\/p>\n \t Data scientist Anmolika Singh put Dallas on the global AI Tinkerers map. At the first meetup, more than 30 pros\u2014founders to Fortune 500 technologists\u2014showed up to trade ideas, projects, and solutions.<\/p>\n \t North Texas has plenty to see, hear, and watch.\u00a0Here are our editors’ picks. Plus, you’ll find more selections to “save the date.”<\/p>\n \t \u201cSome moments are priceless.\u201d Fort Worth-based Bison Coolers …. reflecting on the company’s Google Super Bowl ad appearance, via LinkedIn. Despite the Cowboys missing out on Super Bowl LIX, a Fort Worth family business scored big during the championship game. Bison Coolers, founded by former Southwest Airlines employee Jeremy Denson in 2011, was featured in Google’s “50 States, 50 Stories” campaign highlighting how small businesses use AI technology and the tech giant\u2019s Gemini for Workspace. 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