Daimler Trucks and Waymo have signed a strategic global partnership to deploy autonomous SAE level 4 vehicles.
Initial efforts will combine Waymo’s automated driver technology with a unique version of Daimler’s Freightliner Cascadia.
Daimler has not announced a date for the launch of the truck but says “it will be available to customers in the US in the coming years”.
The partnership will also investigate expansion to other markets and brands “in the near future”.
Daimler Truck chairman Martin Daum says the company has made “significant progress” on bringing series-produced highly automated trucks to the road around the world.
“With our strategic partnership with Waymo as the leader in autonomous driving, we are taking another important step towards that goal.
“This partnership complements Daimler Trucks’ dual strategy approach, of working with two strong partners to deliver autonomous L4 solutions that are seamlessly integrated with our best-in class trucks, to our customers,” Daum says.
Waymo chief executive John Krafcik says teaming up with Daimler’s engineering skills and broad global truck product portfolio will help scale the Waymo technology.
This will “improve road safety and logistics efficiency on the world’s roadways.”
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