The manufacturer MAN is promoting this new race towards automation by testing the first driverless truck on the European road.
He first driverless truck driving on European roads successfully concluded this stage of recognition in order to contemplate the advantages and disadvantages of this technology that adds to a new supply chain that is addressed by automation.
This fact occurred hand in hand with MANGerman manufacturer belonging to the consortium Traton Groupa company that has been promoting the development of autonomous trucks for use in logistics centers for some time and to serve as another tool for logistics.
After receiving level 4 test permission based on the law on autonomous vehicles (driving on highways), MAN tested this advanced technology on its flagship model, the TGXwhich makes it the first driverless truck to fulfill a logistics task on the old continent.
MAN TGX, the first driverless truck to circulate on European roads
Transportation is reaching increasing volumes in the supply chain and along with the growing driver shortage it is challenging for society to meet demands. For it, autonomous trucks can help alleviate the situation.
In addition, the intelligent interconnection of freight transport offers the opportunity to make road-to-rail logistics more efficient and thus strengthen combined transport that is respectful of the environment and with greater safety.
After several years of technological development, MAN becomes the first European heavy duty manufacturer to obtain a license to operate trucks with level 4 automationwhich still have a command post, but require virtually no human intervention to continue traveling between given locations.
That is why the TGX in its version 18,510 4×2 became the first truck manufacturer to put an autonomous vehicle into operation in Germany. On this maiden voyage, carried out on a stretch of 10 kilometres of the A9 motorway between Allershausen and Fürholzen, attended by the German Federal Minister of Transport, Volker Wissing, and the CEO of MAN, Alexander Vlaskamp.
According to MAN, the first driverless truck will be used in trips between cargo terminals, on extremely repetitive routes, being used 24 hours a day. The manufacturer, in turn, highlights that autonomous trucks are more efficient, safer and economical compared to those that are operated by a driver.
This is because there is no need to make stops to eat, rest or sleep, and labor law does not require the truck to stop to rest between shifts.
As noted by MAN, the efficient use of autonomous trucks in the long term will achieve reduce the overall operating costs of companies by 10% to 15%, At the same time, the new technology will also alleviate the driver shortage, where it is estimated that In Germany alone there are 100,000 vacant positions in the sector.
Following initial testing, customers are expected to receive their first driverless truck with autonomous technology from 2025, for use in regular transportation operations. Serial production of this type of heavy duty vehicle is expected only by the end of the decade, probably starting in 2028.
MAN has been testing autonomous technology since 2017 in various projects in Europe. With the development of the technology, the German manufacturer has already obtained 33 patents, and already registered another 100 that are in the analysis phase before the competent organizations.
