Departure of Uber CEO’s External Board Commitments
In a recent regulatory filing, Dara Khosrowshahi, the CEO of ride-hailing giant Uber, has announced his resignation from the board of autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora Innovation. According to the filing, Khosrowshahi’s decision to leave the board was effective as of Tuesday and was made in order to focus on his ongoing responsibilities at Uber.
Background: Aurora and Uber’s Partnership
Aurora Innovation and Uber have a long history dating back to 2020 when Uber offloaded its self-driving unit, Uber ATG, to Aurora. The deal involved Uber handing over its equity in ATG and investing $400 million into Aurora, giving it a 26% stake in the combined company. As part of the deal, Khosrowshahi joined Aurora’s board.
Uber Freight and Aurora’s Collaboration
Through Uber Freight, Uber’s freight brokerage platform that connects shippers and carriers, the ride-hail and delivery giant maintained its connection with Aurora. In June 2022, Uber and Aurora announced a multi-year collaboration to put trucks powered by Aurora’s technology on the Uber Freight network. However, it’s worth noting that Uber’s relationship with Aurora is not exclusive, as the company also has a deal with Waabi, the self-driving truck startup founded by Raquel Urtasun.
Khosrowshahi’s Decision: Focus on Ongoing Responsibilities
In his resignation letter, Khosrowshahi cited a desire to focus on his ongoing responsibilities at Uber and reduce external board commitments. This decision comes just a couple of weeks after Nolan Shenai, Aurora’s general counsel, shared his intention to step down effective January 6, 2025.
New Board Member: Shailen Bhatt
Shailen Bhatt, senior vice president and chief operating officer for AtkinsRéalis, will join Aurora’s board in Khosrowshahi’s place. Bhatt has a background working for the Federal Highway Administration, which could bring valuable expertise to the company.
Recent Executive Departure at Aurora
Ossa Fisher, Aurora’s president, will take over Shenai’s responsibilities while the company considers his replacement. This recent executive departure adds to the list of changes happening within the company.
Related Developments
- Tesla to split $100M award for electric truck charging corridor in Illinois: In related news, Tesla has been awarded a share of $100 million by the state of Illinois to establish an electric truck charging corridor.
- Uber and Aurora’s partnership continues: Despite Khosrowshahi’s resignation, Uber and Aurora will continue their collaboration on putting trucks powered by Aurora’s technology on the Uber Freight network.
Conclusion
Dara Khosrowshahi’s resignation from the board of Aurora Innovation highlights the ongoing changes in the autonomous vehicle industry. As companies like Aurora and Uber continue to push forward with innovation, it remains to be seen how these departures will impact the future of transportation.
About the Author
Rebecca Bellan is a senior reporter at TechCrunch, covering transportation news. She has a background in journalism and history from Boston University and has written for various publications, including Forbes.com, Bloomberg CityLab, and The Atlantic.
Related Stories
- Tesla to split $100M award for electric truck charging corridor in Illinois: Read the full story
- Uber and Aurora’s partnership continues: Read more about the multi-year collaboration between Uber and Aurora