DAF Trucks to integrate Einride Driver to scale autonomous electric freight

Einride and DAF Trucks are integrating autonomous and electric trucking. Source: Einride

Autonomous truck developers are responding to industry challenges such as labor shortages and rising operating costs. Einride AB today said it has partnered with DAF Trucks N.V. to integrate its autonomous driving system with DAF’s premium vehicle platform.

“This collaboration is a testament to DAF’s commitment to innovation and future-proofing the logistics sector,” stated Jeroen van den Oetelaar, chief engineer and a member of the board at DAF Trucks. “By combining our premium truck platform with leading autonomous technology, we are actively shaping a more efficient, safer, and sustainable freight ecosystem.”

Eindhoven, Netherlands-based DAF Trucks is a subsidiary of PACCAR Inc., a global designer and manufacturer of light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks. DAF provides a full range of tractor units and commercial vehicles. The company also provides MultiSupport repair and maintenance contracts, financial services from PACCAR Financial, and a delivery service from PACCAR Parts.

Einride and DAF Trucks said their partnership “marks a significant step toward the large-scale commercialization of SAE Level 4 autonomous electric freight transportation.”

Level 4 refers to a high level of automation in which a vehicle can independently perform repetitive driving tasks under predefined conditions, without any need for human intervention. Einride said this allows human drivers can focus on logistics activities where their expertise and judgement add the most value.

Founded in 2016, Einride said it is leading the transition to sustainable , cost-efficient, electric, and autonomous freight operations. The Stockholm-based company ‘s platform integrates AI -powered freight intelligence, its proprietary Driver technology, and one of the world’s largest electric heavy-duty fleets.

Einride serves customers across North America, Europe, and the Middle East through a dual business model encompassing freight capacity as a service (FCaaS) and a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. The company went public via a special-purpose acquisition company ( SPAC ) merger in June.

Last month, Einride acquired Flipturn Inc. to create what it claimed will be North America’s largest heavy-duty charging network. Last week, the company partnered with Centinus to add real-time threat detection and counter- drone systems as part of its initiative to deliver autonomous logistics capabilities for the defense market.