Nuro Expands Driverless Autonomous Vehicle Testing to Attract More Customers

Nuro Rolls Out Large-Scale Test Fleet of Driverless Vehicles

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Nuro’s Shift in Strategy

Nuro, a pioneering autonomous vehicle technology startup, has announced the rollout of a test fleet of its driverless, passenger-less R3 vehicles across the Bay Area and Houston. This development comes two months after Nuro changed its business strategy to license its AV tech to automakers and mobility providers.

The large-scale demo aims to showcase Nuro’s technology to potential customers. The startup offers a two-fold approach: it sells automated driving products for passenger and commercial vehicles to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), while offering fully driverless technology, including hardware and software, to goods delivery and ride-hail companies.

A New Era of Testing

Nuro has raised over $2 billion from high-profile investors like Tiger Global Management and SoftBank Vision Fund. Initially, the startup planned to own and operate a fleet of low-speed, on-road delivery bots. It conducted delivery pilots with Domino’s and FedEx and still runs a small-scale delivery operation for Uber Eats.

The R3 robot was meant to be Nuro’s next-generation vehicle, and this year, it received approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to expand testing. However, after multiple rounds of layoffs and cost-cutting measures failed to sustain its original business model, Nuro scrapped plans to mass-produce the vehicles.

Expanded Testing Domains

For the first time, Nuro will test its vehicles and autonomy stack at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour in Palo Alto and Mountain View, California, and Houston. The improved technology can now handle more complex driving scenarios, such as:

Reacting to emergency vehicles
Navigating construction zones
Responding to school buses

Nuro’s Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Chapin, stated that this milestone marks a significant step towards building a scalable, safe, and cost-effective autonomy system. He noted that the test is "across a greatly expanded geography" and allows them to drive on all roads (excluding freeways) without the support of a safety driver.

The Future of Autonomous Vehicles

Nuro’s shift in strategy and the rollout of its test fleet signal a significant development in the autonomous vehicle industry. The startup’s focus on licensing its technology to OEMs and mobility providers highlights the growing demand for efficient and cost-effective autonomy solutions.

As Nuro continues to push the boundaries of driverless technology, it is clear that the company’s innovative approach will play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation.

Nuro’s Vision

Rebecca Bellan, Senior Reporter at TechCrunch, has been following Nuro’s journey closely. She notes that the startup’s vision for a scalable and safe autonomy system is an exciting development for the industry.

Bellan’s background in journalism and history has equipped her with a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and society. Her work has appeared in various publications, including Bloomberg CityLab, The Atlantic, and Mother Jones.

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