Uber and its Technology Partner Aurora to Expand Autonomous Trucking Pilot in Texas

Uber Freight, which is the logistics business of ride hailing company Uber Technologies Inc., is expanding its autonomous freight delivery pilot in Texas ahead of the holiday rush. Uber has been testing its autonomous trucking technology in the state with its technology partner Aurora Innovation Inc. The two companies are expanding their autonomous pilot with a new 600-mile commercial freight lane between Fort Worth and El Paso.

Eric Walz2022-12-02 11:00 PT

Waymo To Partner With Uber Freight on Autonomous Logistics for the Trucking Industry

Alphabet Inc's autonomous technology unit Waymo is partnering with Uber’s logistics business unit Uber Freight, which would see the two rivals working together to transform the trucking industry using autonomous trucks and a greater level of utilization and efficiency. Waymo is connecting its core autonomous driving technology with Uber’s logistics platform and will deploy its self-driving Class 8 trucks.

Eric Walz2022-07-14 10:45 PT

Autonomous Truck Developer Embark Trucks Adds Freight Carrier U.S. Xpress to its Partner Development Program

​San Francisco-based autonomous trucking startup Embark Trucks today announced that freight carrier U.S. Xpress has joined its Embark Partner Development Program and plans to add its freight terminals to Embark's Coverage Map. These transfer points are used to move freight from driverless, long-haul trucks to driver-enabled trucks for first- and last-mile delivery.

Eric Walz2022-06-12 12:00 PT

Virginia-based Self-Driving Truck Developer Torc Robotics is Opening a Tech Center in Stuttgart as its Ramps Up its Collaboration with Daimler Trucks

Virginia-based self-driving truck developer Torc Robotics is opening a technology and software development center in Stuttgart, Germany named Torc Europe GmbH. The Stuttgart team will support the ongoing development of SAE Level 4 virtual driver for deployment in autonomous trucks in the United States. Torc Robotics has been an independent subsidiary of Daimler Trucks since March 2019 after Daimler Trucks took a majority stake in the company for an undisclosed sum.

FutureCar Staff 2022-05-13 16:15 PT

FedEx to Test Autonomous Drone Deliveries in 2023 with San Francisco-based eVTOL Startup Elroy Air

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of the world’s largest express shipping company FedEx Corp, is teaming up with San Francisco-based aviation startup Elroy Air to build the first autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerial cargo system. The first version of the eVTOL aircraft will be able to transport 300 to 500 lbs. of cargo a range of up to 300 miles.

FutureCar Staff 2022-05-06 15:00 PT

EV Charging Provider ChargePoint Plans to Build an ‘Electric Ecosystem’ for Battery-Powered, Autonomous Trucks

​Electric vehicle charging provider ChargePoint announced a new partnership with autonomous truck developer Gatik with the goal of developing what it calls an “electric ecosystem” for autonomous vehicles for the business-to-business, short haul logistics sector. The goal is to improve operational efficiency for ChargePoint and Gatik’s customers across North America by providing convenient charging options for fleets of electric box trucks.

Eric Walz2022-05-04 08:30 PT

Waymo is Deploying Self-Driving Trucks in Texas in a New Partnership with Fleet Operator C.H. Robinson

Waymo, the autonomous driving technology division of Alphabet that spun out of Google’s self-driving car project, is expanding its deployment of self-driving Class-8 trucks with a new partnership with Texas fleet operator C.H. Robinson Worldwide. Over the next few months, Waymo plans to deploy the self-driving trucks in Texas with safety drivers behind the wheel.

FutureCar Staff 2022-03-25 10:30 PT

California Startup Parallel Systems Emerges From Stealth, Aims to Disrupt the Rail Freight Industry with its Electric & Autonomous Platform

​A new California startup named Parallel Systems founded by former SpaceX engineers has emerged from stealth after announcing a $49.55 Series A funding round. The company is developing an electric rail platform for shipping containers, which replaces diesel powered locomotives and converts each freight car into individually self-propelled, autonomous and electric vehicles that can be linked together.

Eric Walz2022-02-25 13:30 PT

Waymo is Entering into a Long-term Strategic Alliance with Shipping Company J.B. Hunt Using Autonomous Class-8 Trucks

Alphabet Inc's autonomous driving unit Waymo is expanding its relationship with U.S. transportation and logistics company J.B. Hunt. The two companies have entered into a long-term, strategic alliance to commercialize autonomous driving technology for Class-8 trucks after a successful trials runs using self-driving trucks throughout 2021.

FutureCar Staff 2022-02-20 12:40 PT

GM’s BrightDrop Will Supply Electric Delivery Vans to Walmart, Expanding its Existing Supply Deal With FedEx

​BrightDrop, the new logistics and commercial electric vehicle division of automaker General Motors, announced a partnership with retailer Walmart at CES on Wednesday to supply electric thousands of delivery vans to Walmart. The battery-powered vans will be used in Walmart’s last mile delivery network and will help the retailer reach its goal of operating a zero-emissions logistics fleet by 2040.

Eric Walz2022-02-11 09:15 PT

The Mercedes-Benz Unveils the ‘SUSTAINEER’ Electric Concept Van, Designed for Sustainable Urban Mobility

​Automaker Mercedes-Benz unveiled its last-mile transportation concept solution for urban mobility called the SUSTAINEER, which offers a glimpse to what sustainable transportation might look like in the near future. The fully-electric SUSTAINEER van is based on the popular Mercedes-Benz eSprinter. It combines a variety of innovative solutions designed to improve the quality of life in cities, to conserve resources, protect the climate and to better protect the health and safety of the driver.

FutureCar Staff 2021-12-03 14:00 PT

General Motors’ Commercial Electric Truck Business BrightDrop to Setup a Dealer Network

​General Motors’ new commercial electric truck logistics business BrightDrop is setting up a dealer network to support its business customers and help drive growth, the head of the unit said on Tuesday.

FutureCar Staff 2021-12-02 14:30 PT

UPS Acquires Technology Platform Roadie to Facilitate Same Day Gig Deliveries

​United Parcel Service (UPS) announced an agreement to acquire technology platform operator Roadie, which will help it facilitate same day deliveries. Roadie’s logistics platform is similar to how Uber works, however drivers pick up packages instead of people. It matches nearby gig drivers with parcel deliveries that are heading in the same direction.

FutureCar Staff 2021-10-17 10:15 PT

Autonomous Trucking Startup Inceptio Technologies Raises $270 Million in Latest Series B Round

​Autonomous truck startup Inceptio Technologies announced Tuesday it closed on a US$270 million Series B equity financing round. The funding round was jointly led by Wisconsin-based trucking firm JD Logistics, Chinese e-commerce platform operator Meituan, and PAG, one of Asia’s leading investment firms.

FutureCar Staff 2021-09-09 16:15 PT

Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell Trucks Hitting the Road in California in the Largest Deployment of the Technology in the U.S.

Hyundai Motor Co announced that its fuel cell-powered XCIENT trucks are hitting the road in California as part of two publicly-funded projects in the state to improve air quality. Hyundai plans to deploy 30 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks in Northern California by early 2023 as part of its public and private partnerships in the U.S. It will be the largest commercial deployment of Class 8 hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks in the U.S.

Eric Walz2021-09-02 13:30 PT

Uber Freight Aims to Build the World’s Most Comprehensive Logistics Network with its $2.25 Billion Acquisition of Transplace

​Ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies Inc is ramping up plans for its Uber Freight division and announced its acquiring logistics and data company Transplace for up to $2.25 billion. The acquisition will create one of the most comprehensive managed transportation and logistics networks in the world.

Eric Walz2021-08-28 09:00 PT

Mercedes-Benz Trucks Reveals its eActros Zero Emissions Electric Truck for Europe

Mercedes-Benz Trucks on Tuesday revealed its new battery-electric eActros electric delivery truck for the European market. The eActro is the first, zero-emissions, commercial electric truck from Mercedes Benz.

FutureCar Staff 2021-08-06 13:15 PT

BMW iVentures Invests in Silicon Valley-based Self-Driving Truck Startup Kodiak Robotics

BMW iVentures, the Silicon Valley-based venture capital arm of automaker BMW that invests in promising mobility startups, announced today an investment in Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a developer of self-driving technology for long-haul trucks.

Eric Walz2021-07-31 12:30 PT

Self-Driving Truck Startup Embark to Launch IPO in a $5.2 Billion SPAC Deal

San Francisco-based autonomous truck startup Embark Trucks Inc. plans to launch an IPO this year in a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II (Northern Genesis 2), becoming that latest startup to merge with a SPAC to secure funding from investors.

Eric Walz2021-07-30 10:15 PT

Self-Driving Technology Developer Aurora to Partner with Volvo on Autonomous Long-Haul Trucks

Volvo Group is partnering with Silicon Valley autonomous driving developer Aurora to accelerate the commercialization of autonomous Class 8 trucks for highway long-haul freight delivery in North America. As part of the partnership, Aurora will supply its “Aurora Driver” autonomous driving software stack that will be added to the trucks from Volvo.

Eric Walz2021-05-06 14:30 PT