Uber Freight founder joins autonomous big rig startup Waabi

Lior Ron, the entrepreneur who founded and ran Uber Technologies Inc.’s freight and logistics unit, is returning to the world of self-driving big rigs.

Ron is joining autonomous trucking and AI startup Waabi Innovation Inc. as chief operating officer after several years leading Uber Freight, Waabi said on Tuesday. Ron will help develop customer and manufacturer partnerships and oversee logistics as the four-year-old tech firm works to launch driverless trucks later this year.

The hire adds a veteran of both the logistics and autonomous vehicle industries to the startup’s leadership team. Ron co-founded Otto, a developer of self-driving truck technology, which Uber bought in 2016. He then served as chief executive officer of Uber Freight, which generated about $5.1 billion in revenue last year. The unit is Uber’s transportation logistics platform where shippers can book truckers to haul cargo.

“It’s like going back to the roots,” Ron said in an interview. “I really view it as a continuation of the journey to the next stage of logistics innovation that is now ready for prime time.”

Waabi is working to line up deals for manufacturers to produce new trucks equipped with Waabi’s self-driving technology. It’s also vying to drum up interest among freight customers eager to ship their goods on a Waabi-powered rig.

Ron’s role at Waabi will begin next week. He will stay on as chairman of Uber Freight, he said.