Uber CEO Cites Desire to Focus on Ongoing Responsibilities
Dara Khosrowshahi, the CEO of ride-hailing giant Uber, has resigned from the board of autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora Innovation. According to a regulatory filing made public on Friday, Khosrowshahi’s decision was effective as of Tuesday.
Reason for Resignation
In a statement, Aurora revealed that Khosrowshahi’s decision to leave the board was not the result of any disagreement with the company. Instead, he cited his desire to focus on his ongoing responsibilities as CEO of Uber and reduce external board commitments.
Background with Aurora Innovation
Khosrowshahi’s resignation marks a significant development in the relationship between Uber and Aurora Innovation. In 2020, Uber offloaded its self-driving unit, Uber ATG, to Aurora as part of a deal that saw Uber invest $400 million into the company. This investment gave Uber a 26% stake in the combined entity.
As a result of this deal, Khosrowshahi joined Aurora’s board, maintaining a connection between the two companies. Through Uber Freight, the ride-hailing giant also continued to collaborate with Aurora by connecting its trucks powered by Aurora’s technology on the Uber Freight network.
Non-Exclusive Relationship
It is worth noting that Uber’s relationship with Aurora is not exclusive. The company has also partnered with Waabi, a self-driving truck startup founded by Raquel Urtasun, who previously served as chief scientist and head of R&D at Uber ATG.
New Board Member Appointed
Shailen Bhatt, senior vice president and chief operating officer for AtkinsRéalis, will join Aurora’s board in Khosrowshahi’s place. Bhatt brings a background working for the Federal Highway Administration to his new role.
Recent Executive Departure at Aurora
This news comes just weeks after Nolan Shenai, Aurora’s general counsel, shared 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.
Topics
- Aurora Innovation
- Startups
- Transportation
- Uber
- Uber Freight
About the Author
Rebecca Bellan is a senior reporter at TechCrunch, covering transportation. She has a strong interest in micromobility, EVs, AVs, smart cities, AI, sustainability, and more.
Bellan’s work has appeared in various publications, including Bloomberg CityLab, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, Mother Jones, i-D (Vice), and more. She studied journalism and history at Boston University and has invested in Ethereum.
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