Aurora Innovation is accelerating production of its autonomous trucking fleet, with more than 20 driverless trucks already built and being added to its operations. The company expects to reach a production rate of 20 trucks per week in early December 2026, as it works towards deploying more than 1,000 driverless vehicles by the end of 2027.
The update came alongside Aurora’s third-quarter 2026 results, announced on October 28. The autonomous trucking company reported revenue of $3 million for the July-September period and a net loss of $234 million, according to its shareholder letter.
Driverless Truck Production Ramps Up
Aurora is working with vehicle upfitting partner Roush to build production capacity equivalent to more than 1,000 trucks annually.
However, the initial production ramp has faced delays related to material availability, component quality and end-of-line testing. Aurora said the ramp was approximately six weeks behind its previous schedule.
Charger Logistics Plans to Purchase Up to 500 Aurora Driverless Trucks
Despite these challenges, the company expects to surpass 200 driverless trucks by the end of February 2027 and finish 2027 with a fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles.
Aurora also reported progress in commercial operations. Its Aurora Driver autonomous system surpassed 500,000 commercial driverless miles in September, with the company reporting a 100% on-time delivery record since the service began.
Volvo and PACCAR Partnerships Advance Industrialisation
Aurora is working with Volvo to integrate its autonomous driving system directly into the truck manufacturer’s factory production line. The company is also preparing for full original equipment manufacturer (OEM) industrialisation with Volvo and PACCAR.
According to Aurora’s shareholder letter, Volvo plans to deploy more than 300 driverless trucks in 2027 ahead of full industrial production in 2028.
Hardware development is progressing through Aurora’s partnership with AUMOVIO. Design validation of the third-generation hardware is underway, with production scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027 at a facility in New Braunfels, Texas.
Charger Logistics Signs Agreement for 500 Trucks
Aurora is also expanding its commercial customer pipeline. Charger Logistics signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to own and operate 500 trucks equipped with the Aurora Driver under the company’s Driver as a Service (DaaS) model.
Deliveries are expected in 2027 and 2028. Charger plans to use the autonomous trucks to add capacity to its freight network, initially on routes between Dallas and Laredo, Texas.
Aurora said other customers are also pursuing DaaS agreements. The company expects the Aurora Driver to begin operating directly to sites for several driverless customers in November.
Aurora Targets 30,000 Self-Driving Trucks and $5 Billion Revenue by 2030
On the regulatory front, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration granted Aurora and the wider industry a five-year exemption allowing driverless trucks to use cab-mounted warning beacons instead of manually placed roadside warning devices when stopped.
Aurora co-founder and CEO Chris Urmson said:
“We have reached a defining inflection point for our business and our industry,”
Third-Quarter Financial Performance
Aurora generated $3 million in revenue during the third quarter, bringing its total revenue for the first nine months of 2026 to $6 million.
The company reported a quarterly operating loss of $257 million, including $54 million in stock-based compensation. Its net loss reached $234 million, equivalent to $0.12 per share. For the first nine months, the net loss totalled $727 million, or $0.37 per share.
Adjusted EBITDA was negative $197 million. Operating cash use reached approximately $170 million, with an additional $36 million in capital expenditures.
Aurora ended the third quarter with more than $1 billion in cash and short-term investments. For the full year, it expects approximately $9 million in revenue and around $250 million in cash use during the fourth quarter.