We have taken a step closer towards the futuristic scenes in any sci-fi movie where cars and trucks get on with their business with no input from their occupants.
Although we are still quite some way off seeing trucks navigate the centre of our cities on their own, Iveco have taken a step closer to this scenario in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Plus, a leading global autonomous trucking company, to jointly develop autonomous trucks.
Self Driving S-Way
Under the terms of the non-binding MOU, Iveco and Plus will integrate Iveco’s latest-generation S-WAY heavy-duty truck with the PlusDrive full-stack autonomous driving system. The cooperation will also explore using Iveco’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) engine system to power the jointly developed autonomous trucks.
The partnership combines Iveco’s expertise in heavy-duty truck development, manufacturing, and sales with Plus’s cutting-edge autonomous driving technology to bring a safe, fuel efficient, and scalable self-driving truck to market quickly, across Europe and other geographies.
Marco Liccardo, Chief Technology and Digital Officer, Iveco, declared: “The cooperation with Plus represents an excellent opportunity to accelerate the development of the highest levels of automation of heavy trucks.
Iveco is already working on ADAS solutions together with selected companies, but when it comes to level 4 autonomy, it is necessary to create an ecosystem of partners. Thanks to its technology leadership, its non-linear thinking, and established relationships with the same key component suppliers, Plus is the perfect partner for accelerating in this process.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Iveco, who shares our vision for a safer and more sustainable future through autonomous trucks,” said Shawn Kerrigan, COO and Co-founder, Plus. “Our teams will work closely to develop and deploy autonomous trucks,including one that is powered by natural gas. Iveco’s global footprint in over 160 countries will enable us to accelerate our commercial deployment and magnify the impact of our autonomous driving technology.”