A Big-Named Partner for a Major Self-Driving Truck Project
Shares of Aurora Innovation (NASDAQ: AUR) are trading sharply higher on Tuesday morning, after the company announced a major deal with Nvidia and Continental to build thousands of self-driving trucks. As of 10:15 a.m. ET, Aurora’s shares were up about 30.3% from Monday’s closing price.
The Partnership Details
In a statement released late on Monday night, Aurora announced a ‘long-term strategic partnership’ with Nvidia and German auto industry supplier Continental under which Nvidia computing hardware will be a key component of the self-driving truck system that Aurora and Continental plan to build at scale starting in 2027.
The partnership is significant because it brings together three leading companies in the autonomous vehicle space. Nvidia, known for its graphics processing units (GPUs), has already made significant strides in the development of autonomous vehicles with its Drive platform. Continental, a major supplier of automotive components, will provide the necessary hardware and software integration to bring the system to life.
Aurora’s Self-Driving System
Aurora has been working for several years to develop a self-driving system for heavy trucks called the Aurora Driver. The system is now close to completing its final validation and is expected to be launched in Texas this spring. The company plans to make its technology available at scale in 2027, with thousands of self-driving trucks hitting the roads.
The Aurora Driver system will incorporate two Nvidia DRIVE Thor systems-on-a-chip, which are optimized for autonomous vehicles and built on Nvidia’s latest Blackwell chip architecture. This integration is expected to provide significant performance gains and improved safety features for the self-driving trucks.
A Real-World Solution
While many start-ups have focused on developing self-driving cars, Aurora has been working towards a more practical solution – safe automation of heavy trucks. With the US facing a long-term shortage of qualified commercial truck drivers, the demand for autonomous trucks is high.
Aurora’s system can be retrofitted to existing semitrucks, making it an attractive option for fleets looking to adopt self-driving technology without having to invest in new vehicles.
A Company Worth Watching
Aurora has flown under investors’ radar for the last few years. However, with this partnership and the company’s steady progress towards its long-term goal of safely automating heavy trucks, it’s an intriguing, well-run company worth a fresh look from investors.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest in successful stocks like Nvidia, Apple, or Netflix, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. Our expert team of analysts has issued ‘Double Down’ stock recommendations for companies that they think are about to pop.
- If you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $387,474!* with Nvidia.
- If you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $46,399!* with Apple.
- If you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $475,542!* with Netflix.
Right now, we’re issuing ‘Double Down’ alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 ‘Double Down’ stocks ».
Conclusion
Aurora Innovation’s partnership with Nvidia and Continental is a significant step towards the development of safe self-driving trucks. With its steady progress and practical solution to the shortage of qualified commercial truck drivers, Aurora is an intriguing company worth watching. Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity.
