Daimler Trucks & Waymo Partner for Self-Driving Semi Trucks

Two leading companies in the automotive sector are collaborating to introduce self-driving tractor-trailers. Waymo and Daimler Trucks have formed an alliance to develop an autonomous iteration of the Freightliner Cascadia truck. This marks Waymo’s initial venture into the freight transportation industry.

The vehicle will incorporate Level 4 autonomous capabilities, enabling it to operate independently without human intervention, but within geographically limited and predetermined zones. Its availability within the United States is anticipated “within the next several years.”

John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo, expressed in an official announcement, “We hold Daimler’s engineering expertise and extensive worldwide truck lineup in high esteem, and we are enthusiastic about expanding the Waymo Driver, alongside our new collaborator, to enhance safety and streamline logistical operations on roadways globally.”

This agreement equips Daimler Trucks, the foremost global manufacturer of commercial vehicles, with the Waymo Driver. This encompasses a comprehensive system of visual sensors, software, and the computational infrastructure that powers the platform.

In March 2019, Daimler Trucks acquired a controlling interest in Torc, another firm focused on the creation of Level 4 self-driving technology for semi-trucks. Martin Daum, chairman of Daimler Truck AG, explains that the new partnership with Waymo represents a component of Daimler’s “two-pronged strategy,” involving collaboration with multiple partners to offer customers a variety of choices.

A significant number of organizations are pursuing autonomous trucking, recognizing its substantial potential for technological advancement.

Boris Sofman, Waymo’s Director of Engineering and Trucking Lead, stated earlier this month at TechCrunch Sessions: Mobility, “The market is substantial; approximately $700-$800 billion is spent annually on the trucking sector in the United States, and this figure continues to rise each year. Currently, there is a considerable deficit of drivers, a situation projected to worsen in the future. This represents a clear and pressing need. However, progress will not be immediate—a considerable number of complex challenges remain. Our perspective is that the most difficult aspects are simply different in nature.”