What’s Happening: Aurora Innovation, Inc. has announced the appointment of Nat Beuse as its first Chief Safety Officer. Beuse is a highly respected safety expert with over 20 years of experience in vehicle technology, policy, and safety standards.
Why It Matters: The creation of the Chief Safety Officer role emphasizes Aurora’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its autonomous vehicle products. Beuse will play a crucial part in closing the Aurora Driver Safety Case, which will prove the safety of Aurora’s autonomous semitrucks for driverless operations on public roads. This is a significant step toward Aurora’s commercialization goals.
Key Points:
- Beuse will report directly to Aurora CEO Chris Urmson, and his responsibilities will include the development, deployment, and commercialization of Aurora’s autonomous vehicle products.
- His duties will also encompass establishing and managing internal and external corporate safety strategies, policies, standards, and programs.
- Prior to his appointment, Beuse served as Aurora’s Vice President of Safety and held the position of Head of Safety at Uber ATG.
- Beuse’s experience includes nearly two decades in leadership and executive roles at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, focusing on consumer information, research, and regulation for transportation technology, passenger vehicles, and commercial vehicles.
- Beuse is currently a board member for Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Lifesavers Inc., and will continue to lead Aurora’s safety functions from Pittsburgh.
Bottom Line: Aurora Innovation’s appointment of Nat Beuse as its first Chief Safety Officer highlights the company’s dedication to prioritizing safety in the development and deployment of its autonomous vehicle products. Beuse’s extensive experience in vehicle technology, policy, and safety standards positions him as a valuable asset in Aurora’s pursuit of commercializing its autonomous trucking subscription service, Aurora Horizon. With the Aurora Driver being Feature Complete, the company aims to close the Aurora Driver Safety Case for driverless operations on its Dallas-Houston launch lane by the end of 2023.
