The driverless truck industry is rapidly evolving, with significant advancements and announcements from key players in the field. Aurora recently hosted an Investor Day event where they provided updates on their progress and plans. CEO Chris Urmson revealed that Aurora has seven freight carrier customers and has completed over one million miles in autonomous trucking. Partnering with Volvo, Aurora is set to launch their first fully driverless units by the end of the year, with plans to scale up to thousands of trucks by 2027.
Kodiak, another player in the driverless truck space, has been making significant strides in the industry. They have announced a partnership with Martin-Brower to deliver time-critical refrigerated freight for quick service restaurants. This collaboration has resulted in over 600 autonomous deliveries since 2022, showcasing the potential for driverless trucks in the commercial sector.
Plus, a key player in the driverless truck industry, has been chosen by TRATON to supply L4 products for their truck brands Scania, MAN, and Navistar. With an eye on commercialization, Plus has hired Jon Morrison as their first Chief Revenue Officer to help them expand their reach in the commercial vehicle space.
Forterra and Kalmar have signed a joint development agreement for autonomous terminal tractor solutions, marking a significant milestone in the yard tractor space. This partnership will see Kalmar developing automation-ready terminal tractors while Forterra will integrate their AutoDrive platform for autonomous operations, signaling a move towards factory-built AV-ready tractors.
The evolution of the autonomous trucking industry is evident in the increasing number of OEM deals between truck manufacturers and autonomous technology providers. The industry is moving from a testing and trial phase to a phase where autonomous trucks are seen as potential money-making assets. With major players like Daimler trucks, Isuzu, Volvo, and TRATON publicly signaling their commitment to producing autonomous trucks, there is significant progress in the industry.
As the industry continues to mature and evolve, the relationship between truck manufacturers and freight operators is crucial. OEMs will continue to offer choice to their customers, allowing them to choose between different Automated Driving System offerings on a given brand of truck. With deep insights from professionals in the trucking industry, the future of autonomous trucking looks promising and headed towards widespread adoption.
