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Uber Buys Autonomous Truck Startup Otto

Photo: Otto

Uber is upping its efforts to expand from the ride-sharing market to commercial freight movement by acquiring Otto, the technology startup that's developing an aftermarket version of autonomous technology for Class 8 trucks.

Anthony Levandowski, who left Google's self-driving cars project to found Otto with other former Google employees, will lead Uber's self-driving efforts and report directly to Travis Kalanick, Uber CEO and co-founder.

Otto is already road testing a “suite” of sensors, software, and truck enhancements that could be quickly fitted on existing trucks.

Kalanick called Otto plus Uber “a dream team. Anthony is one of the world's leading autonomous engineers: his first invention, a self-driving motorcycle called Ghostrider, is now in the Smithsonian. Just as important, Anthony is a prolific entrepreneur with a real sense of urgency," he said in a post on Uber's website.

Otto, in its blog, said, “Together with Uber, we will create the future of commercial transportation: first, self-driving trucks that provide drivers unprecedented levels of safety; and second, a platform that matches truck drivers with the right load wherever they are."

Related: Commentary — Autonomous by Retrofit

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