Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Resigns From Aurora's Board of Directors

Uber CEO’s Departure from Autonomous Vehicle Tech Company

Dara Khosrowshahi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uber, has announced his resignation from the board of directors at autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora Innovation. This decision was made in a regulatory filing on Friday and is effective as of Tuesday.

Reason for Resignation

According to the filing, Khosrowshahi’s decision to leave the board was not due to any disagreement with Aurora Innovation. Instead, he cited his desire to focus on his ongoing responsibilities as CEO of Uber and reduce external board commitments. This move is likely aimed at streamlining his duties and ensuring that he can devote more time and attention to leading Uber.

Uber-Aurora Relationship

The relationship between Khosrowshahi’s Uber and Aurora Innovation dates back to 2020, when Uber offloaded its self-driving unit, Uber ATG, to Aurora. As part of the deal, Uber invested $400 million in Aurora and handed over its equity in ATG, resulting in a 26% stake in the combined company. Khosrowshahi joined Aurora’s board as part of this agreement.

Multi-Year Collaboration

In June, Uber and Aurora announced a multi-year collaboration to put trucks powered by Aurora’s technology on the Uber Freight network. This partnership is aimed at expanding the use of autonomous vehicles for commercial transportation. However, it’s worth noting that Uber’s relationship with Aurora is not exclusive, as they also have a deal with Waabi, another self-driving truck startup founded by Raquel Urtasun, a former chief scientist and head of R&D at Uber ATG.

New Board Member

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, bringing valuable experience to the table.

Recent Executive Departure

This news comes just weeks after Nolan Shenai, Aurora’s general counsel, announced his intention to step down effective January 6, 2025. Ossa Fisher, Aurora’s president, will take over Shenai’s responsibilities while the company considers his replacement.

Background on Key Players

Dara Khosrowshahi: CEO of Uber and former board member at Aurora Innovation.
Aurora Innovation: Autonomous vehicle technology company with a 26% stake in its combined entity with Uber ATG.
Uber ATG: Self-driving unit offloaded by Uber to Aurora Innovation in 2020.
Waabi: Self-driving truck startup founded by Raquel Urtasun, former chief scientist and head of R&D at Uber ATG.
Shailen Bhatt: New board member at Aurora Innovation with experience working for the Federal Highway Administration.

Conclusion

Dara Khosrowshahi’s resignation from the board of directors at Aurora Innovation marks a significant change in the leadership dynamics between these two companies. As the CEO of Uber, Khosrowshahi will continue to oversee the company’s efforts in autonomous vehicle technology through their partnership with Aurora. With new faces joining the board and recent executive departures, it remains to be seen how this development will impact the future of transportation innovation.

Topics: Aurora Innovation, Startups, Transportation, Uber, uber freight

Author: Rebecca Bellan

Senior Reporter, Transportation

Rebecca Bellan covers transportation for TechCrunch. She’s interested in all things micromobility, EVs, AVs, smart cities, AI, sustainability and more.

Previously, she covered social media for Forbes.com, and her work has appeared in Bloomberg CityLab, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, Mother Jones, i-D (Vice), and more.

Rebecca studied journalism and history at Boston University. She has invested in Ethereum.

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