Iveco & Plus: Pilot Project for Autonomous Long-Haul Truck

IVECO, a subsidiary of CNH, has announced a pilot project for autonomous driving with trucks, which will be realized in cooperation with the automation specialist Plus in Europe and China. The project involves the validation and integration of Plus's autonomous truck technology into the latest generation of the long-distance model S-WAY. In the first joint trial, the performance of the integrated system will be tested and showcased in various environments and under different driving conditions. Both the PlusDrive solution with a driver and the Level 4 autonomy technology will be used. The partners aim to lay the foundation for the production of a fully autonomous model in this series.

"As the only autonomous truck technology company that has already begun delivering a commercial product to customers in the heavy-duty sector, Plus has developed a clear and compelling strategy to first bring a driver-assisted solution to market and then a Level 4 autonomous truck,” says Marco Liccardo, designated Chief Technology & Digital Officer of the Iveco Group.

This aligns with our customer-oriented perspective of a more automated and safe truck that aims to increase productivity and reduce operational costs. It has always been emphasized that extensive testing is necessary to verify whether an autonomous driving system can cope with various weather conditions, terrains, and driving scenarios, adds Shawn Kerrigan, COO and co-founder of Plus. In his opinion, the pilot project will accelerate these efforts. The goal is to start the production of autonomous trucks that "combine Plus's production-ready, high-performance, fully autonomous Level 4 driving technology with IVECO's technical expertise and focus on safety and sustainability," Kerrigan continues.