Aurora plans to achieve positive free cash flow by 2028 — CNBC
In the United States, autonomous truck developer Aurora Innovation plans to achieve positive free cash flow in 2028. As CNBC reports, the company expects to do so through a significant increase in the number of driverless tractor-trailers on the country’s roads.
Aurora founder and CEO Chris Urmson said that 20 of the company’s trucks are currently operating on the roads without drivers. By the end of 2026, Aurora plans to expand its autonomous fleet to 200 vehicles. The company operates fully autonomous tractor-trailers on routes between Houston and Dallas via I-45, as well as between Fort Worth and El Paso via I-20 in Texas.
Bet on lower costs
Aurora believes autonomous trucks can operate more efficiently and at a lower cost than tractor-trailers with drivers. The company’s model provides for customers to pay for each mile traveled. According to Urmson, the technology can help carriers save fuel, deliver cargo faster, and offset the driver shortage.
Morgan Stanley analyst Ravi Shanker estimated that an autonomous fleet could be nearly 7.5 times more profitable than a fleet with drivers. Bank of America, in turn, calculated that Aurora’s services could cost $0.85 per mile compared with about $1.30 in driver wages and benefits, excluding indirect personnel costs.
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Safety and testing
Urmson noted that Aurora’s systems use lasers, radar, and cameras to identify other cars and trucks and drive safely. According to him, the company conducted 15 million tests before deploying the technology on roads.
Aurora has been testing autonomous driving technology on public roads since 2022 and has covered more than 440,000 miles. Most of these trips took place with a safety operator behind the wheel in case of a system failure. In 2025, the company lost more than $800 million.
uShip logistics company CEO Sean Wu acknowledged the potential of driverless trucks to reduce costs but questioned whether carriers are ready to completely abandon drivers. He emphasized that drivers do not only operate vehicles, but also make decisions, work with customers, and provide security.
