EVwire brief: Swedish autonomous freight company Einride and Dutch truck manufacturer DAF are teaming up to bring Level 4 autonomous driving to electric trucks. The partnership will integrate Einride's self-driving system, Einride Driver, into DAF's electric truck platform.
The companies said they will begin by working with Dutch research institute TNO to define and test the integration of Einride's autonomous software into DAF's International Truck of the Year 2026 electric truck platform. The effort will establish the interfaces needed for safe and scalable autonomous operations while supporting future regulatory approval for public-road deployment.
Einride announced the partnership in a LinkedIn post.
According to the companies, initial interface testing and validation will take place during 2026. Integration of Einride's autonomous driving software into a DAF truck is scheduled for 2027, followed by functional testing and further validation.
"By leveraging DAF's decades of manufacturing excellence and market strength, we can expedite the global scale-up of Einride's autonomous technology. This collaboration validates our vehicle-agnostic approach to autonomy and brings us one step closer to deploying safe, scalable Level 4 autonomy at commercial scale."
DAF said the initiative also builds on parent company PACCAR's broader autonomous driving strategy, including experience gained through its North American Autonomous Vehicle Platform program and collaborations with autonomous technology providers.
“This collaboration is a testament to DAF's commitment to innovation and future-proofing the logistics sector. By combining our premium truck platform with leading autonomous technology, we are actively shaping a more efficient, safer, and sustainable freight ecosystem.”
DAF's electric truck platform won International Truck of the Year 2026. Soon, it'll drive itself. (Image: DAF Trucks)
Context:
Einride, founded in Stockholm in 2016, operates one of the world's largest electric heavy-duty fleets through a dual model of Freight-Capacity-as-a-Service and a SaaS platform. The company recently deployed 75 electric trucks with Amazon targeting 3 million annual electric miles. The DAF partnership adds Level 4 autonomy to that existing fleet capability.
DAF offers a full lineup of electric trucks, from the 12-tonne XB Electric for city distribution to the XG and XG+ Electric for longer haul applications.
Source: Einride
DON'T FORGET to subscribe to EVwire to join 14,000+ EV geeks.
