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TuSimple, a developer of self-driving technology for trucking, and Traton Group, the heavy-duty truck unit of Volkswagen AG, have announced a partnership to develop SAE Level 4 autonomous trucks, calling it the first of its kind in Europe. Traton also acquired a minority stake in TuSimple.
The two will, initially, apply the Level 4 technology to Scania’s Traton heavy trucks traveling on a hub-to-hub route in Sweden between Södertälje and Jönköping – a one-way distance of about 200 miles.
Level 4 trucks are those in which the vehicle can operate without driver assistance or backup assistance, at least in specific areas and conditions.
“Innovative future technologies that provide additional value to our customers are a key part of our strategy,” Matthias Gründler, CEO of Traton, said in a statement.
TuSimple autonomous driving technology will be tested on Scania S500 trucks in Sweden in a new partnership with Traton Group. (tossimple)
Traton’s broader goal is to test autonomous truck fleets on roads throughout Sweden, Germany and other countries, according to the Munich-based company.
“I think some of the same dynamics are also happening in Europe as in the United States,” Cheng Lu, president of TuSimple, told Transport Topics. “I think there’s a driver shortage and an aging population. On the demand side, e-commerce and the pressure for one- or two-day delivery are driving truck shipping. This is a global trend.”
The companies indicated that there is a shortage estimated at about 60,000 drivers in Germany alone.
The latest partnership comes after TuSimple in July entered into a partnership in the US with Navistar Inc. To participate in the development of SAE Level 4 autonomous trucks targeted for production by 2024.
Traton offered to buy Navistar for $3.6 billion, but Navistar described the amount as insufficient. Traton already owns a 17% stake in the Lisle, Illinois-based company.
Asked if TuSimple partnerships with other truck manufacturers were a possibility, Lu said: “I don’t think I can give you a definitive answer yet. But I would say that I think if you look at who the trusted technology developers for autonomous driving for trucks are, There’s not really that many of them, less and less so we’ve already built a quiet leadership in the market with our software, hardware and business models so I think we’ll have partnership opportunities for sure.
TuSimple will be very selective, Lu said.
What does it take to be a commercial driver, and what do schools do to train them? Host Michael Freese talks with Chris Throop of Sage Truck Driving School and Don Leviev of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association. Listen to the excerpt above, and get the full program by going to RoadSigns.TTNews.com.
“What we’re doing is basically designing a new truck. The brains, what the body looks like, where you put the sensors, how you get the power. They’re not just buying a component from us. So you can imagine how much work it takes. It’s something that has to be done,” he said. “We are very selective about it in terms of partnerships.”
In the United States, San Diego-based TuSimple has developed what it calls an autonomous charging network. The company described it as an ecosystem consisting of self-driving trucks, digitally defined routes, strategically located terminals, and TuSimple Connect, a proprietary system for monitoring autonomous operations.
“Right now, while our technology is in development, we need to operate the self-driving trucks ourselves. In the future, when self-driving commercial trucks become available, shippers and fleets will be able to purchase TuSimple-enabled Navistar vehicles and operate them on the autonomous charging network,” Lu said. .
He said that the company is discussing with Traton the establishment of a similar network in Europe. “But it’s too early to say.”
Its basic business model in the U.S. is that a customer buys a truck from Navistar, “and then as part of that package you’ll pay a per-mile subscription fee to operate the truck autonomously,” he said.
He added: “There must be ongoing service and support to operate these trucks wherever the trucks can go. There is dispatch, post-flight and pre-flight planning. Over-the-air updates. These are all ongoing. So it is unlikely that we can give a truck to someone and that truck can drive anywhere. This would be kind of a next generation product, but not today.
In addition to Scania, Traton’s brands include MAN, Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus and RIO. In 2019, Traton Group brands sold a total of 242,000 vehicles – including light commercial vehicles, trucks and buses produced at 29 facilities in 17 countries.
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