Aurora Gets Autonomous-Truck Validation in Paccar Deal

Aurora Innovation Inc., a Silicon Valley-based autonomous-driving startup with a $10 billion valuation, has entered into a strategic partnership with Paccar Inc., the maker of light, medium and heavy-duty trucks.

Aurora sees long-haul trucking, not passenger cars, as first to the market for self-driving vehicles. So the Palo Alto, California-based company designed its Aurora Driver technology for initial use in trucking applications, then last-mile goods delivery and finally passenger-mobility networks. Paccar is aiming to stay competitive with rivals such as Daimler AG and Volvo AB, which also are developing self-driving technology for their freight haulers.