Uber does deal on AV unit with Aurora

Uber is shedding its troubled self-driving-car unit to Amazon-backed Aurora and investing US$400 million in it.

The deal involves transferring Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group to autonomous vehicle (AV) start-up Aurora led by chief executive Chris Urmson, the former leader of Google’s autonomous vehicle efforts, The New York Times reports.

A technology partnership will result, and Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi is expected to join Aurora’s board.

Media reports suggest it’s uncertain whether Uber’s arrangement with Volvo to develop self-driving systems will continue under Aurora.

But Urmson suggests Aurora’s first AV will be a long-haul truck rather than a robotaxi.