Overview
Dara Khosrowshahi, the CEO of ride-hailing and delivery giant Uber, has resigned from the board of autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora Innovation. This move comes after a regulatory filing on Friday revealed that Khosrowshahi’s decision to leave was due to his desire to focus on his ongoing responsibilities as CEO of Uber.
Background
Khosrowshahi joined Aurora’s board in 2020, as part of a deal where Uber offloaded its self-driving unit, ATG, to the company. The deal involved Uber handing over its equity in ATG and investing $400 million into Aurora, giving it a 26% stake in the combined entity.
Relationship Between Uber and Aurora
The relationship between Uber and Aurora dates back to 2020 when Uber offloaded its self-driving unit, ATG, to the company. Since then, the two companies have maintained their connection through Uber Freight, a freight brokerage platform that connects shippers and carriers. In June, Uber and Aurora announced a multi-year collaboration to put trucks powered by Aurora’s technology on the Uber Freight network.
Exclusive Deal or Not?
Uber’s relationship with Aurora is not exclusive, as the company has also partnered with Waabi, a self-driving truck startup founded by Raquel Urtasun, who previously served as chief scientist and head of R&D at Uber ATG. This indicates that Uber is exploring multiple options in the autonomous vehicle space.
New Board Member
Shailen Bhatt, senior vice president and chief operating officer for AtkinsRéalis, will join Aurora’s board in Khosrowshahi’s place. Bhatt has a background working for the Federal Highway Administration, which could bring valuable expertise to the company.
Recent Executive Departures
Khosrowshahi’s decision to leave the board comes a couple of weeks after Nolan Shenai, Aurora’s general counsel, shared his intention to step down effective January 6, 2025. Ossa Fisher, Aurora’s president, will take over Shenai’s responsibilities while the company considers his replacement.
Conclusion
Dara Khosrowshahi’s resignation from the board of Aurora Innovation marks a significant development in the autonomous vehicle space. With multiple partnerships and collaborations in place, Uber continues to play a significant role in shaping the future of transportation.
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About the Author:
Rebecca Bellan is a senior reporter at TechCrunch, covering transportation and its various aspects. She has a background in journalism and history from Boston University and has previously worked for Forbes.com, Bloomberg CityLab, The Atlantic, and more.
