Aurora Innovation is targeting more than 30,000 driverless trucks in operation by 2030, a fleet the company says will generate a multi-billion dollar revenue stream under its Driver as a Service (DaaS) business model. The autonomous trucking company presented the plan at its 2026 Analyst and Investor Day in Dallas this week, where attendees were offered rides in trucks with no one behind the wheel on a segment of Aurora’s Dallas-to-Houston commercial route. In its investor day announcement, Aurora said it expects SaaS-like gross margins from the DaaS model and described the passenger rides as an industry first.
Highlights
- 30,000+ driverless trucks targeted in operation by 2030 under the DaaS model
- 200 driverless trucks fully allocated for Aurora’s year-end 2026 fleet through Transport as a Service (TaaS) agreements
- 500 trucks that carrier Hirschbach intends to own and operate through a DaaS agreement, with deliveries slated to begin in 2027
- 500,000+ driverless miles completed since commercial launch, according to the company
Customer Demand and Fleet Growth
Aurora reports that it has nearly doubled its driverless customer count in 2026 as its autonomous truck supply increases. The company says its capacity is fully allocated to end the year with 200 driverless trucks operating under TaaS agreements.
Hirschbach plans to scale its autonomous fleet to 500 company-owned trucks under a DaaS agreement, according to Aurora, which characterizes that intent as a non-binding memorandum of understanding. Aurora says it is negotiating DaaS agreements with several additional customers. It will host a Partner Summit with several dozen current and prospective customers the day after the investor event.
“Transformative technologies develop for years before reaching a decisive commercial inflection point – Aurora has arrived at that moment,” said Chris Urmson, co-founder and CEO at Aurora. “We have emerged from the building phase and are revolutionizing how goods move, unlocking safety benefits, and creating immense economic value across the freight ecosystem.”
Driverless Miles and Truck Utilization
The Aurora Driver has completed more than 500,000 driverless miles since commercial launch, the company reports. Aurora began driverless nighttime operations on the Dallas-to-Houston lane last year as part of its push to raise truck utilization.
Trucks running the Aurora Driver for McLane, Werner, and other customers are averaging an annualized rate of more than 225,000 miles per year, according to the company. Aurora says that figure is more than double the utilization of a traditional truck.
How Is Aurora Cutting Hardware Costs?
Aurora’s second-generation commercial hardware kit is designed for a one-million-mile operating lifespan and, according to the company, costs more than 50% less than the previous generation. Aurora calls the cost reduction a key step toward positive gross profit.
Roush has started volume upfitting of the kit and is targeting a production rate of 20 trucks per week in October.
OEM Platforms for the Aurora Driver
Aurora describes its approach as vehicle-agnostic, with the Aurora Driver deployed across multiple truck platforms:
| OEM | Platform | Integration Method | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| International | LT Series | Upfit | In operation |
| Volvo | VNL Autonomous | Lineside integration at New River Valley facility, Virginia | In operation |
| PACCAR | Future autonomy-enabled platform | Assembly-line integration of third-generation kit | Launch path being jointly defined |
2030 Targets and Path to Profitability
Aurora’s 2030 plan pairs the 30,000-truck fleet target with a multi-billion dollar revenue stream and SaaS-like gross margins for its DaaS business, the company says.
“We have the enablers to drive real market growth,” said David Maday, CFO of Aurora. “This momentum puts us firmly on the path to profitability.”
A replay of the Analyst and Investor Day presentation is available for 30 days on Aurora’s investor relations website.
