Autonomy is Coming to Commercial Vehicles

But not without its share of technical and implementation hurdles - and tech-startup casualties.

Despite a pandemic that continues to punish global economic markets, not to mention vehicle manufacturers' and suppliers' product plans, many heavy-duty truck makers are not relaxing on efforts to bring to market high-level (SAE Level 4 or 5) autonomous trucks. Partnerships with self-driving tech startups can be a big part of the roadmap, the latest example coming in mid-July as Navistar announced it will co-develop SAE L4 trucks, targeted for production by 2024, with San Diego-based TuSimple.

The producer of International commercial trucks and IC Bus school and commercial buses also has taken a minority stake in TuSimple. These moves follow a two-year “technical relationship” with the startup, which operates a U.S. fleet of 40 self-driving trucks that moves freight between Arizona and Texas for companies like UPS and McLane Company. TuSimple plans to demonstrate completely driverless operations in 2021.