India Explores Autonomous Semi Trucks: Testing and Operations Underway

Quick Summary

• As of August 2025,no fully autonomous platooning semi-trucks have been deployed globally; current implementations require human drivers in all vehicles.
• Human-driven trucks average 100,000 miles/year with $70K profit per truck; partially automated platooning with drivers increases profits to $280K per truck/year; fully autonomous trucks may achieve up to $500K profit annually by driving 300,000 miles a year.
• Autonomous trucking regulations allow commercial platooning across 29 U.S. states, covering over 50% of annual freight ton mileage.
• Several companies are advancing autonomous trucking technologies:

– Kodiak Robotics: Completed over 900 deliveries and testing driverless RoboTrucks equipped with SensorPods for safety and operational uptime. Full-scale deployments expected by late 2026.
– Aurora innovation: Plans launch of fully autonomous trucks operating day/night on highways and urban areas, using FirstLight lidar technology for enhanced safety and precision by end of 2025.
– Volvo Group & Waabi: Collaborating on heavy-duty driverless tractors with pilot programs planned in Texas soon; past demos saw up to a 7% fuel-saving benefit but retained human operators for monitoring.
– Other ventures (Bot Auto,Torc robotics): Preparing pilot programs or scalable operations but target launches extend into late this decade.

• Challenges persist around regulatory approval, road integration, reliability validation, and complete removal of onboard human supervision.

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