Aurora and Toyota to test robotaxis in Texas

Japanese automotive giant Toyota Motor and American developer of automated driving systems, Aurora Innovation Inc., have started testing a ride-hailing fleet of autonomous driving taxis in Texas, with two safety operators and no passengers on board.

Toyota’s Siena hybrid minivans, retrofitted with Aurora’s self-driving system, will be tested on suburban streets and highways in Texas’ Dallas-Fort-Worth area, with the operation including trips enroute to an airport.

The test is small for now and not completely driverless. Each vehicle will feature a behind-the-wheel supervisor and a monitor in the passenger seat. Aurora reported the Siennas would drive autonomously up to 70mph. The autonomous driving firm said it would be growing its fleet of self-driving cars and expanding the testing into more urbanized areas in the next few months.

Aurora chose the U. S state of Texas both due to an abundance of significant trucking routes (to help with its cargo-carrying plans) and the power to test and develop high-priority trips for its Aurora Connect autonomous driving taxi program, such as rides to the airport.

In 2020, Aurora acquired Uber’s self-driving unit and has maintained a relationship with the company. For example, Aurora’s autonomous driving trucks are hauling goods for Uber Freight customers in Texas as part of a multiphase commercial pilot that will see the companies assimilated more closely.