Isuzu, Gatik to Build Level 4 Autonomous Trucks – Equipment

Isuzu Motors and Gatik are teaming up to accelerate mass-production of SAE Level 4 (L4), production-ready, autonomous trucks. The companies said the new trucks will be designed to operate at commercial scale without a human driver present.

A Groundbreaking Partnership

According to the companies, the agreement marks the first time an OEM and autonomy partner have committed to work together to establish a dedicated production facility to mass produce L4-capable autonomous trucks. They called the move a significant step beyond the R&D phase of other industry and OEM collaborations.

As part of this agreement, Isuzu has invested $30 million in Gatik.

The two companies said they have been working together successfully since 2021. This deepening of the partnership to mass-produce L4 autonomous trucks will help accelerate the deployment of the technology at scale, they added.

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Under the terms of the agreement, Isuzu and Gatik will collaborate on the design, development, and production of an SAE L4, production-ready, autonomous truck with robust and safety-critical redundant systems (including braking, steering and sensors, as well as software) with complete validation required for operating at scale without a human driver.

This truck platform will be manufactured on a first-of-its-kind production line at a dedicated manufacturing facility that will be established by Isuzu and begin operations in 2027. 

Middle-Mile Autonomous Trucks

Both companies said that manufacturing at scale is key to commercializing the autonomous trucking industry and this partnership represents a significant development in the industry.

Current autonomy manufacturing platforms simply modify existing trucks into self-driving vehicles at the end of a production line, the companies said.

The deployment of L4 autonomous vehicles at scale will allow Gatik and Isuzu to make a meaningful impact on the worsening driver shortage in North America and rapidly increasing needs and expectations of consumers. 

Isuzu intends to enter the middle-mile autonomous driving market in the low cab forward truck segment in the United States and Canada.

First deliveries of L4-capable autonomous trucks from the new manufacturing facility are expected to be delivered exclusively to Gatik’s fleet customers.