Sterling Anderson, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of autonomous vehicle startup Aurora Innovation, will step down from the company, just days after it launched its commercial self-driving truck service in Texas.
According to a regulatory filing released alongside Aurora’s first-quarter earnings report, Anderson’s resignation as chief product officer will take effect June 1. He will also leave the board of directors on August 31. The company said the decision was not due to any disagreement with Aurora’s operations or policies.
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“The Company and the entire Board are deeply grateful for Mr. Anderson’s service and his immense contributions to the Company over the years in his role as founder, Chief Product Officer and a member of the Board,” the filing stated.
Anderson is expected to take on a senior leadership role at what Aurora described as “an iconic global company,” although further details were not disclosed. He did not issue a public statement but commented during Aurora’s earnings call on Thursday.
“Leaving Aurora is one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made, especially given the exciting stage Aurora is at,” Anderson said. “This is precisely what gave me the confidence that now is the right time. Aurora has reached a critical inflection point; product strategy is firmly established. The technology is on the road, the team is in place to scale it, and the momentum we’ve created in the industry is palpable.”
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Anderson co-founded Aurora in 2017 alongside CEO Chris Urmson, formerly head of Google’s self-driving project, and Drew Bagnell, who previously led autonomy and perception at Uber. The trio, recognized as early pioneers in the autonomous vehicle sector, helped attract major investors including Sequoia Capital, Amazon, and T. Rowe Price.
Aurora further expanded its profile in December 2020 through the acquisition of Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group (ATG), a self-driving unit once valued at $7.25 billion. In the deal, Uber exchanged its equity in ATG for a 26% stake in Aurora and committed an additional $400 million investment.
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After going public via a merger with special purpose acquisition company Reinvent Technology Partners Y in 2021, Aurora has faced ongoing challenges typical of deep-tech firms still in the development stage. The company has since narrowed its focus to autonomous freight, putting robotaxi ambitions on hold.
In late April, Aurora announced it had met its goal of launching a driverless trucking service in Texas, marking a key milestone as it prepares for broader commercial deployment.