Einride and DAF Trucks are integrating autonomous and electric trucking. Source: Einride
Autonomous truck developers are responding to industry challenges such as labor shortages and rising operating costs. Einride AB today said it has partnered with DAF Trucks N.V. to integrate its autonomous driving system with DAF’s premium vehicle platform.
“This collaboration is a testament to DAF’s commitment to innovation and future-proofing the logistics sector,” stated Jeroen van den Oetelaar, chief engineer and a member of the board at DAF Trucks. “By combining our premium truck platform with leading autonomous technology, we are actively shaping a more efficient, safer, and sustainable freight ecosystem.”
Eindhoven, Netherlands-based DAF Trucks is a subsidiary of PACCAR Inc., a global designer and manufacturer of light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks. DAF provides a full range of tractor units and commercial vehicles. The company also provides MultiSupport repair and maintenance contracts, financial services from PACCAR Financial, and a delivery service from PACCAR Parts.
Einride works to commercialize L4 truck network
Einride and DAF Trucks said their partnership “marks a significant step toward the large-scale commercialization of SAE Level 4 autonomous electric freight transportation.”
Level 4 refers to a high level of automation in which a vehicle can independently perform repetitive driving tasks under predefined conditions, without any need for human intervention. Einride said this allows human drivers can focus on logistics activities where their expertise and judgement add the most value.
Founded in 2016, Einride said it is leading the transition to sustainable, cost-efficient, electric, and autonomous freight operations. The Stockholm-based company‘s platform integrates AI-powered freight intelligence, its proprietary Driver technology, and one of the world’s largest electric heavy-duty fleets.
Einride serves customers across North America, Europe, and the Middle East through a dual business model encompassing freight capacity as a service (FCaaS) and a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. The company went public via a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger in June.
Last month, Einride acquired Flipturn Inc. to create what it claimed will be North America’s largest heavy-duty charging network. Last week, the company partnered with Centinus to add real-time threat detection and counter-drone systems as part of its initiative to deliver autonomous logistics capabilities for the defense market.
DAF Trucks to integrate electric vehicles, autonomy technology
As a first step, Einride and DAF Trucks plan to define and test the integration of Einride Drive with DAF’s platform. The partners said they will collaborate with experts from TNO, the Dutch independent research institute for applied science and innovation, on establishing the required interfaces to enable safe and scalable autonomous operations.
TNO, Einride, and DAF said they are working closely with authorities to ensure that the joint platform is compliant for future expansion onto public roads.
They plan to conduct initial tests and validation of key interfaces on the DAF truck this year The partners said they will integrate and commission Einride’s autonomous driving software in 2027.
Register now and save on your pass to RoboBusiness 2026PACCAR pursues automated driving strategy
PACCAR said the initiative with Einride is part of its automated driving activities. The company said it has gained significant experience through the North American Autonomous Vehicle Platform (AVP) program.
In parallel, PACCAR is collaborating with developers of full-stack autonomous trucking technology. It has worked with Aurora and Kodiak in the past. The company said this “reflects the rapid evolution of scalable, software-defined autonomy solutions for heavy-duty transport.”
PACCAR said insights from these programs will help accelerate the development of autonomous capabilities within the DAF Trucks platform. DAF offers electric trucks ranging from a 12-ton XB Electric for city distribution to the XG and XG+ Electric for longer-haul applications.
The XG Electric and XG+ Electric share their DNA with the XD and XF Electric trucks, which won recognition as the “International Truck of the Year 2026” for their high efficiency, smooth drivelines, and driver comfort.
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