Driverless cars are being developed by many carmakers in the auto industry. Daimler is taking a bigger leap and has recently announced its plans to launch a driverless truck.
On Thursday, July 3, Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, head of the Daimler Trucks division, announced the company's plan to introduce a truck that can steer, accelerate and brake on its own. The company hopes to launch an autonomous truck as early as 2025.
"Autonomous driving will revolutionize road freight transport and create major benefits for everyone involved. With the Future Truck 2025, Daimler Trucks is once again highlighting its pioneering role in innovative technologies and opening up a new era in truck transport," says Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, head of the Daimler Trucks division.
Automated drive is considered a futuristic technology and Daimler has the required knowhow to develop a driverless truck as well. The company recently revealed a prototype of its Mercedes Benz S-Class, which uses self-driving technology.
Daimler claims that the driverless Future Truck 2025 will be equipped an exceptionally intelligent Highway Pilot assistance system, which will enable the truck to drive autonomously even at 85 km per hour. Daimler also demonstrated a prototype of the Future Truck 2025 at a section of the A14 autobahn near the city of Magdeburg. The futuristic truck drove in real life driving conditions.
Bernhard says that there will be important challenges as well as opportunities linked with road freight transport in the near future. The company hopes that the Future Truck 2025 will address all challenges and take advantage of all opportunities in the near term.
Bernhard says that there are many advantages of a self-driving truck. An autonomous truck such as the Future Truck 2025 will offer more efficiency, better safety and improved connectivity.
Daimler faces stiff competition from Volvo in the truck industry. The Future Truck 2025 may attract more customers and increase Daimler's overall market share in the future.
