Hyundai-Kia Expands Partnership with Aurora

Hyundai Motor Co. and its Kia Motors Corp. affiliate have made an unspecified investment in Aurora Innovation Inc., a Silicon Valley-based startup specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence for self-driving cars.

The deal broadens a 17-month development agreement between Hyundai-Kia and Aurora. In early 2018, the companies demonstrated a prototype version of Hyundai’s Nexo fuel cell vehicle (pictured) equipped with Aurora’s technology.

Under the new program, the partners plan to develop an autonomous vehicle platform that can be used for a variety of Hyundai and Kia models. The architecture will use Aurora’s “Driver” sensor suite comprised of lidar, radar and cameras.

Hyundai-Kia plans to offer Level 4 autonomous vehicles by 2021, starting with a fleet of autonomous robo-taxis in smart cities.

Founded in 2016, Aurora was valued at $2.5 billion following the completion of its second round of funding in February. Earlier this week, the startup inked a development agreement with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV. But that deal prompted Volkswagen AG to end its 16-month alliance with Aurora.