Aurora Opens Advanced Lidar Research and Testing Facility in Bozeman, Montana
Aurora Innovation (NASDAQ: AUR) has opened a new 78,000 square-foot facility in Bozeman, Montana, located on Montana State University's Innovation Campus. The facility includes advanced R&D labs, a manufacturing area with cleanroom, vehicle testing garage, and modern office spaces. The facility will focus on developing Aurora's proprietary FirstLight Lidar technology, which can detect objects at distances over 450 meters.
The opening ceremony was attended by state officials including Montana Governor Gianforte and featured Aurora's co-founder and CEO Chris Urmson. This expansion builds on Aurora's 2019 acquisition of Blackmore, a Bozeman-based lidar company. The company currently operates autonomous trucks hauling commercial freight in Texas and plans to launch its commercial trucking product in April 2025.
Aurora Innovation (NASDAQ: AUR) ha aperto una nuova struttura di 7.300 metri quadrati a Bozeman, Montana, situata nel Campus dell'Innovazione della Montana State University. La struttura comprende laboratori di ricerca e sviluppo avanzati, un'area di produzione con sala bianca, un garage per test di veicoli e uffici moderni. Qui si concentrerà sullo sviluppo della tecnologia proprietaria FirstLight Lidar di Aurora, in grado di rilevare oggetti a distanze superiori ai 450 metri.
Alla cerimonia di apertura erano presenti funzionari statali, tra cui il Governatore del Montana Gianforte, e ha visto la partecipazione del cofondatore e CEO di Aurora, Chris Urmson. Questa espansione si basa sull'acquisizione da parte di Aurora della Blackmore, un'azienda di lidar con sede a Bozeman, avvenuta nel 2019. Attualmente l'azienda opera camion autonomi che trasportano merci commerciali in Texas e prevede di lanciare il proprio prodotto di trasporto commerciale a aprile 2025.
Aurora Innovation (NASDAQ: AUR) ha inaugurado una nueva instalación de 7.300 metros cuadrados en Bozeman, Montana, ubicada en el Campus de Innovación de la Universidad Estatal de Montana. La instalación incluye laboratorios de I+D avanzados, un área de fabricación con sala limpia, un taller de pruebas de vehículos y oficinas modernas. La instalación se enfocará en el desarrollo de la tecnología FirstLight Lidar de Aurora, que puede detectar objetos a distancias superiores a 450 metros.
La ceremonia de apertura fue atendida por funcionarios estatales, incluido el Gobernador de Montana, Gianforte, y contó con la participación del cofundador y CEO de Aurora, Chris Urmson. Esta expansión se basa en la adquisición de Blackmore, una empresa de lidar con sede en Bozeman, realizada por Aurora en 2019. Actualmente, la compañía opera camiones autónomos que transportan carga comercial en Texas y planea lanzar su producto de transporte comercial en abril de 2025.
오로라 이노베이션 (NASDAQ: AUR)는 몬태나 주 보즈먼에 78,000 평방피트 규모의 새로운 시설을 열었습니다. 몬태나 주립대학교의 혁신 캠퍼스에 위치한 이 시설에는 첨단 연구개발 실험실, 클린룸이 있는 제조 구역, 차량 테스트 차고, 현대적인 사무실 공간이 포함되어 있습니다. 이 시설은 450미터 이상의 거리에서 물체를 감지할 수 있는 오로라의 독점 기술인 퍼스트라이트 라이다 기술 개발에 중점을 둘 것입니다.
개막식에는 몬태나 주지사 기안포르트(Gianforte)를 포함한 주 정부 관계자들이 참석했으며, 오로라의 공동 창립자이자 CEO인 크리스 얼므슨(Chris Urmson)이 연설했습니다. 이번 확장은 오로라가 2019년 보즈먼에 본사를 둔 라이다 회사인 블랙모어를 인수한 것을 기반으로 하고 있습니다. 현재 이 회사는 텍사스에서 상업 화물을 운송하는 자율 트럭을 운영하고 있으며, 2025년 4월에 상업 운송 제품을 출시할 계획입니다.
Aurora Innovation (NASDAQ: AUR) a ouvert une nouvelle installation de 7 300 mètres carrés à Bozeman, dans le Montana, située sur le campus d'innovation de l'Université d'État du Montana. L'installation comprend des laboratoires de R&D avancés, une zone de fabrication avec salle blanche, un garage de test de véhicules et des bureaux modernes. L'établissement se concentrera sur le développement de la technologie FirstLight Lidar d'Aurora, capable de détecter des objets à des distances supérieures à 450 mètres.
La cérémonie d'ouverture a été marquée par la présence de responsables étatiques, y compris le gouverneur du Montana, Gianforte, et a été honorée par Chris Urmson, le cofondateur et CEO d'Aurora. Cette expansion fait suite à l'acquisition par Aurora de Blackmore, une entreprise de lidar basée à Bozeman, en 2019. Actuellement, l'entreprise opère des camions autonomes transportant des marchandises commerciales au Texas et prévoit de lancer son produit de transport commercial en avril 2025.
Aurora Innovation (NASDAQ: AUR) hat eine neue 7.300 Quadratfuß große Einrichtung in Bozeman, Montana, eröffnet, die sich im Innovationscampus der Montana State University befindet. Die Einrichtung umfasst hochmoderne F&E-Labore, einen Produktionsbereich mit Reinraum, eine Fahrzeugtestgarage und moderne Büros. Der Fokus der Einrichtung liegt auf der Entwicklung der proprietären FirstLight Lidar-Technologie von Aurora, die Objekte in Entfernungen von über 450 Metern erkennen kann.
Zur Eröffnungsfeier waren unter anderem der Gouverneur von Montana, Gianforte, sowie Aurora-Mitgründer und CEO Chris Urmson anwesend. Diese Expansion baut auf der Übernahme von Blackmore, einem in Bozeman ansässigen Lidar-Unternehmen, im Jahr 2019 auf. Das Unternehmen betreibt derzeit autonome Lkw, die Fracht in Texas befördern, und plant, sein Verkaufsprodukt im April 2025 auf den Markt zu bringen.
- Expansion of R&D capabilities with new 78,000 sq ft facility
- FirstLight Lidar technology demonstrates 450+ meter detection range
- Clear commercial launch timeline set for April 2025
- Active commercial freight operations already running in Texas
- None.
Insights
The opening of Aurora's advanced 78,000 square-foot facility in Bozeman represents a significant expansion of their lidar development capabilities. The facility's strategic location at Montana State University's Innovation Campus leverages the region's established photonics expertise and infrastructure. The inclusion of advanced R&D labs, cleanroom manufacturing and vehicle testing capabilities indicates a comprehensive approach to accelerating FirstLight Lidar development.
The facility's capabilities align perfectly with Aurora's commercial timeline for autonomous trucking launch in April 2025. FirstLight Lidar's impressive 450-meter detection range is important for highway-speed autonomous operations. This investment suggests Aurora is positioning itself to scale up lidar production and testing capabilities ahead of their commercial deployment, potentially giving them a competitive edge in the autonomous trucking sector.
Aurora's expansion in Montana's growing photonics hub demonstrates strategic foresight in securing talent and resources in a specialized tech corridor. The investment strengthens Aurora's vertical integration in lidar technology, a critical component for autonomous vehicles, while potentially reducing dependencies on third-party suppliers. The facility's opening, supported by strong political backing from state officials, suggests a favorable regulatory environment for autonomous vehicle development in Montana.
The timing of this facility launch, just 16 months before Aurora's planned commercial deployment, indicates confidence in their technology readiness and commercialization timeline. This could positively impact investor sentiment, especially given the company's current progress in Texas with active freight operations using FirstLight Lidar-equipped trucks.
Aurora's new 78,000 square-foot office and testing facility in
Inaugurated today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by state elected officials, regulators, and community leaders, Aurora’s facility is designed to support the continued development and testing of its proprietary FirstLight Lidar technology. The state-of-the-art space includes advanced research and development labs, a world-class manufacturing area with a cleanroom, a garage for vehicle testing, and modern office and collaboration spaces for Aurora’s growing
“Our state is made stronger when companies like Aurora choose to expand their business in Montana,” said
Driving Montana’s Photonics Industry Forward
Aurora’s ribbon cutting ceremony brought together leaders from Montana’s regulatory bodies, including the departments of transportation and commerce and featured remarks by
“The grand opening of Aurora’s
"We're delighted to see Aurora's commitment to Bozeman,” said
Investing in Lidar Development
In 2019, Aurora acquired Blackmore, a leading lidar company based in
“From early on, we knew Montana’s photonics leadership would be invaluable for bringing safe, scalable self-driving technology to the world,” said Chris Urmson, co-founder and CEO at Aurora. “Our new
Aurora’s leadership in lidar development is driving the autonomous trucking industry forward in
About Aurora
Aurora (Nasdaq: AUR) is delivering the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly to make transportation safer, increasingly accessible, and more reliable and efficient than ever before. The Aurora Driver is a self-driving system designed to operate multiple vehicle types, from freight-hauling trucks to ride-hailing passenger vehicles, and underpins Aurora’s driver-as-a-service products for trucking and ride-hailing. Aurora is working with industry leaders across the transportation ecosystem, including Continental, FedEx, Hirschbach, PACCAR, Ryder, Schneider, Toyota, Uber, Uber Freight, Volvo Trucks, Volvo Autonomous Solutions, and Werner. To learn more, visit aurora.tech.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the prospects of the development, manufacturing, scaling (including, but not limited to, the opening of new lanes) and commercialization of the Aurora Driver and related services and technology (including relationships with partners and customers) and on the timeframe we expect or at all, and Aurora’s cash management. These statements are based on management’s current assumptions and are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, please see the risks and uncertainties identified under the heading “Risk Factors” section of Aurora Innovation, Inc.’s (“Aurora”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 15, 2024, as amended by the Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on May 24, 2024, and other documents filed by Aurora from time to time with the SEC, and other documents filed by Aurora from time to time with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements reflect our beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Aurora undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.
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Media:
press@aurora.tech
Source: Aurora Innovation, Inc.
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