DAF, a PACCAR Group company, announced its cooperation with autonomous logistics company Einride to integrate the Einride Driver Level 4 autonomous driving system into its premium X-class range of heavy-duty electric trucks. The partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of autonomous electric freight trucks by leveraging DAF’s platform and Einride’s autonomous-operation technology capabilities.
The announcement comes as the logistics industry faces a driver shortage and increasing volatility in fuel costs. The companies believe that electric trucks can provide more predictable charging costs, while autonomous operation allows the vehicle to remain ready for work without relying on a driver being inside it during tasks permitted by the systems and regulations.
Integrating the Technology into DAF Electric Trucks
DAF already offers a range of fully electric heavy-duty trucks, starting with the XB Electric, weighing 12 tonnes and intended for urban distribution, and extending to the XG Electric and XG+ Electric models aimed at longer-distance transport applications. The announcement did not identify a specific model that would receive Einride Driver first, nor did it state when production would begin or when trucks equipped with the technology would be delivered.
Jeroen van den Oetelaar, DAF Trucks’ chief engineer and board member, said the cooperation reflects the company’s commitment to innovation and to preparing the logistics sector for the future. He added that combining DAF’s platform with autonomous driving technology is intended to build a more efficient, safer and more sustainable freight transport system.
From Trials to Commercial Expansion
The article stated that Einride became the first company to successfully operate Level 4 autonomous trucks on public roads in Europe, and also operated autonomous trucks on private roads in the U.S. state of Ohio. According to the source, the company is working to ensure access to a suitable network of direct-current fast-charging stations in preparation for operating Einride Driver as part of regular production.
The partnership with DAF, which is owned by PACCAR, gives Einride an industrial partner capable of putting autonomous vehicles on the roads in larger numbers. PACCAR also owns the Kenworth and Peterbilt brands, but the current announcement focuses on integrating the system into DAF trucks.
Henrik Green, Einride’s chief technology officer, said that benefiting from DAF’s manufacturing expertise and market presence could accelerate the global expansion of the company’s technology. He considered the cooperation to support Einride’s approach of developing autonomous driving technology that does not depend on a single vehicle type, bringing it closer to deploying safe and scalable Level 4 autonomous driving on a commercial scale.
The published information does not include details about the first target markets, regulatory approval requirements, system cost or the launch date for DAF trucks equipped with it. Therefore, at this stage, the partnership remains an announcement of integration and expansion plans, rather than an announcement of the availability of a specific commercial product.