IVECO and Plus launch automated trucking pilot with dm-drogerie markt and DSV in Germany

IVECO and Plus have announced a groundbreaking collaboration with dm-drogerie markt, Europe’s largest retail chain of drugstores, and DSV, a leading global transport and logistics provider, to launch an automated trucking pilot in Germany. Slated to begin in the first half of 2024, this pilot involves an IVECO heavy-duty truck equipped with Plus’s AI-based, driver-supervised highly automated driving software, operating on a DSV route to transport dm-drogerie markt products in the Baden-Württemberg-Hessen region.

Pilot to Demonstrate Enhanced Freight Transportation

The program is set to showcase how advanced automated driving technology can be leveraged today to make freight transportation safer, less stressful, more efficient, and more sustainable. Previous deployments of Plus’s driver-in solution, PlusDrive, have already shown potential in reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) for fleets and improving driver job satisfaction.

Pioneering automated trucking pilot to begin in Germany by IVECO, Plus, and partners. Photo courtesy of Business Wire.

Sustainable Logistics: A Core Focus of the Collaboration

Christian Bodi, the dm Managing Director responsible for logistics, emphasized the pilot’s importance: “For us at dm, our automated trucking pilot is a groundbreaking… The technology can make a significant contribution to the comfort and safety of drivers and ensure that our supply chains run more smoothly and reliably.”

Jens Bjørn Andersen, Group CEO of DSV, highlighted the project’s alignment with sustainability goals: “Sustainability is a shared value… we are committed to supporting our partners and playing a role in the green transition of our industry and societies at large.”

Milestone in Autonomous Driving Technology

Marco Liccardo, Chief Technology & Digital Officer at Iveco Group, and Shawn Kerrigan, COO and Co-Founder at Plus, both recognized the pilot as a significant step in advancing autonomous driving technology at scale, contributing to a safer and greener future in transportation.

This innovative collaboration between IVECO, Plus, dm-drogerie markt, and DSV represents a significant leap forward in the application of autonomous driving technology in the commercial freight industry, potentially setting new standards for safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability in logistics.