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Sterling Anderson , a veteran of the nascent autonomous vehicle sphere and carbon monoxide - founder of Aurora , is resigning just a week after the companionship launched itscommercial ego - driving hand truck servicein Texas .
Anderson held the main product officer position at Aurora . The surrender wasposted in a regulative filingalong with the company ’s first - fourth part net report . His resignation will go into essence June 1 . He will lead the panel August 31 .
The company pronounce in the filing that his surrender from the board “ did not ensue from any disagreement with the Company relate any matter relating to its operations , policy , or practices . The Company and the entire Board are profoundly thankful for Mr. Anderson ’s service and his immense contributions to the Company over the years in his part as laminitis , Chief Product Officer and a member of the Board . ”
Anderson is headed to an external opportunity in a elderly leadership role at an iconic global party , grant to information shared during the company ’s earnings call .
“ leave Aurora is one of the most hard decision I ’ve ever made , especially given the exciting stage Aurora is at , ” he state during Thursday ’s call . “ This is precisely what gave me the trust that now is the correct time . Aurora has reached a critical flexion point ; product Strategy is steadfastly established . The engineering science is on the route , the squad is in lieu to scale it , and the momentum we ’ve created in the manufacture is tangible . ”
Anderson was theater director of Tesla ’s Autopilot program when he left to co - found Aurora in 2017 alongside CEO Chris Urmson , the former head of the Google ego - driving project , and Drew Bagnell , who was leading Uber ’s self-sufficiency and perception team . The trey , considered pioneers of the autonomous fomite industry , gave Aurora immediate bombilation , helping it attract high - visibility investors like Sequoia Capital , Amazon , and T. Rowe Price Associates , as well as a slew of partnerships . Aurora reach more cachet in December 2020 when it reached an understanding with Uber tobuy the ride - hail firm ’s self - aim unitin a complex hatful that valued the combined company at $ 10 billion . Under the condition of that acquisition , Aurora did not compensate cash for Uber ATG , a company that was prize at $ 7.25 billion follow a $ 1 billion investment in 2019 from Toyota , DENSO , and SoftBank ’s Vision Fund . Instead , Uber hand over its fairness in ATG and invested $ 400 million into Aurora . Uber receive a 26 % stake in the combined company , according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission .
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Within four years the company go from buzzy startup topublicly traded companyvia a merger with special purpose skill society Reinvent Technology Partners Y. The SPAC was set in motion by LinkedIn co - founder and investor Reid Hoffman , Zynga founder Mark Pincus , and handle partner Michael Thompson .
Aurora , a thick tech caller still in development and years from steady taxation , has faced headwinds since it went public in 2021 . The company rivet its efforts on self - driving hand truck , put other projects like robotaxis to the side .
Late last calendar month , Aurora announced it successfully launched a ego - driving hand truck service in Texas , just squeaking in under its own deadline .
