# Aurora says driverless trucks could cost $0.85 per mile and plans 200 trucks by year‑end

Digest AI · Business & Funding · published 2026-09-22T11:30:01Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/aurora-says-driverless-trucks-could-cost-0-85-per-mile-and-plans-200-t

## Summary

Aurora Innovation is operating fully autonomous semis on busy Texas highways. The company currently has 20 driverless trucks on the road and says it will expand the fleet to 200 trucks by the end of the year. Aurora’s “driver as a service” model bills customers by the mile, and the firm claims the technology can lower fuel costs and move goods faster.

Bank of America estimates Aurora services will cost ~$0.85 per mile versus approximately $1.30 per mile for human driver wages and benefits, before indirect labour costs. The Department of Transportation puts the total U.S. Class 8 truck fleet at about 3.5 million, a small fraction of which is autonomous. Aurora has logged more than 440,000 miles since public road testing began in 2022, after 15 million internal tests. After losing more than $800 million in 2025, the company is targeting positive free cash flow by 2028.

## Key points

- Aurora runs 20 driverless trucks and aims for 200 trucks by the end of the year.
- Bank of America estimates Aurora’s service cost about $0.85 per mile versus roughly $1.30 per mile for human drivers.

## Why it matters

Lower per‑mile costs and higher utilization could reshape freight economics, offering shippers a cheaper alternative amid driver shortages and pushing the industry toward autonomous operations.

## Sources

1. [Autonomous trucking company Aurora looks to accelerate toward profitability](https://cnbc.com/2026/09/22/aurora-autonomous-semi-ride.html) (CNBC Technology, 2026-09-22)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Aurora says driverless trucks could cost $0.85 per mile and plans 200 trucks by year‑end", 22 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/aurora-says-driverless-trucks-could-cost-0-85-per-mile-and-plans-200-t

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