For a company working to prove out its business model, a big endorsement can go a long way.
That’s what happened with the autonomous trucking company Aurora Innovation (NASDAQ: AUR) and its expansion agreement with the Berkshire Hathaway transportation subsidiary, McLane
This is an important development for Aurora, and receiving even an indirect nod of approval from Berkshire can carry some weight. Driverless operations McLane has over 80 U.S. distribution centers, serving markets that range from retail to restaurants. It began using Aurora’s tech in 2023 and has since recorded 280,000 supervised autonomous miles in Texas.
The current pilot program includes two daily round-trips, where the technology drives the middle mile, which is typically the longest stretch of the drive. The expansion approves driverless operations between Dallas and Houston, with new routes being developed. “Aurora plans to expand to new routes between McLane distribution centers across the U.S. Sun Belt by the end of the year, with plans to serve additional McLane business in the future,” Aurora said in its press release.