Uber Freight CEO Lior Ron Joins Waabi to Lead Autonomous Truck Commercialization

Lior Ron, the CEO and founder of Uber Freight, is transitioning to the role of chief operating officer at Waabi, a Toronto-based self-driving truck startup, to spearhead its move from research and development to commercial operations. Waabi, led by AI scientist Raquel Urtasun, plans to launch fully autonomous trucks on public highways in the U.S. Southwest by the end of the year, with ambitions to expand coverage across North America within five years. Ron's experience growing Uber Freight into a $5 billion revenue business and his longstanding collaboration with Urtasun position him to lead Waabi's go-to-market strategy and expand industry partnerships. Despite the autonomous trucking sector facing setbacks from competitors like TuSimple and Waymo, Waabi emphasizes an AI-first, simulation-driven approach to develop cost-effective driverless technology. Uber continues to support Waabi financially and maintains partnerships that integrate Waabi's autonomous trucks into Uber Freight's digital marketplace. Ron will remain chairman of Uber Freight while working from Waabi's San Francisco office and frequently visiting its Toronto headquarters.