Nuro notches up a USDOT first and introduces R2

Autonomous delivery startup Nuro has become the first company to receive a driverless exemption from the federal government in the US.

Granted by the the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this is for Nuro’s newest low-speed electric vehicle (the R2) that will be used for local delivery service for restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses. Further details here.

Last year, Softbank’s Vision Fund invested $940 million into Nuro, at a valuation of around $2.7 billion. The company has been testing out its tech with Kroger. It has also partnered with Walmart and Domino’s Pizza. It said that it would use SoftBank’s money to build its fleet, expand its service and work with new partners.

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