Silicon Valley Startup Teams with VW, Hyundai on Self-Driving Tech

Aurora Innovation Inc., a Silicon Valley-based tech startup that specializes in machine learning and artificial intelligence, has struck separate agreements with Volkswagen AG and Hyundai Motor Co. to help the carmakers develop autonomous vehicles.

Aurora was founded in late 2016 by CEO Chris Urmson, chief product officer Sterling Anderson and chief technical officer Drew Bagnell. Urmson previously headed Google’s self-driving car program. Anderson led the development of Tesla’s semi-autonomous Autopilot system, and Bagnell is a robotics expert and associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

Hyundai plans to use Aurora's technology in specially developed models, starting with a next-generation fuel cell vehicle the company will unveil at next week’s CES electronics show in Las Vegas. The carmaker plans to commercialize Level 4 autonomous vehicles in unidentified "pilot smart cities" by 2021.

VW has been working with Aurora for about six months to integrate the tech company’s sensors, hardware and software into future vehicle platforms. The group aims to spread the technology across its brands in a variety of products, including self-driving ride-sharing fleets, shuttles, delivery vans and fully autonomous trucks.