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MAN Truck & Bus has marked a significant milestone by deploying the first autonomous truck on a German motorway, showcasing advances in autonomous driving technologies. This event was not just a demonstration but a pivotal moment underlined by the presence of German Federal Transport Minister Dr. Volker Wissing and MAN CEO Alexander Vlaskamp. The journey spanned ten kilometers on the A9 motorway, between Allershausen and Fürholzen junctions, symbolizing a new era in commercial vehicle operations.
Key Highlights:
- First Level 4 motorway test permit: MAN Truck & Bus becomes the inaugural commercial vehicle manufacturer to secure a Level 4 test permit for motorways.
- Test drive approval by Autobahn GmbH: The testing was made possible by Autobahn GmbH, which examined and approved MAN’s test license application.
- Significant contribution by engineers: Approximately 500 engineers from MAN and the TRATON GROUP have propelled the development, resulting in over 133 patents.
- Potential benefits highlighted: The adoption of autonomous trucks is expected to reduce fatigue-related accidents, enhance transport processes, and address the truck driver shortage in Germany, estimated at about 100,000.
“The first Level 4 test drive of an autonomous truck on a German motorway proves that Germany has taken a leading position in Europe with the law on autonomous driving. Our goal is to become the leading market for automated and connected driving. Today is a milestone for logistics in Germany. The ever-increasing volume of transport, coupled with the worsening shortage of drivers, is a challenge for society as a whole. Autonomous trucks can help to alleviate the situation. In addition, the intelligent networking of freight transport offers the opportunity to make transhipment from road to rail more efficient and thus strengthen climate-friendly combined transport,” says Dr. Volker Wissing.
“Today we are taking another big step towards autonomous commercial vehicles, the second major future field alongside the switch to CO2-free drives. This year, we are initially running tests with prototypes on the motorway. Further hub-to-hub projects will follow from 2025, but then in typical customer applications. We are thus taking the next development step towards series production of autonomous trucks towards the end of the decade. The law on autonomous driving gives our industry the necessary planning security. To realize autonomous driving, however, we also need to work closely with infrastructure operators such as Autobahn GmbH. Only together can we put autonomous driving on the road,” says Alexander Vlaskamp.
Autobahn GmbH’s Technical Managing Director, Dirk Brandenburger, also emphasized the role of cooperative intelligent transport systems in ensuring the safety and authorization of autonomous vehicles on motorways.
This groundbreaking initiative not only underscores Germany’s leadership in autonomous vehicle technology but also sets a precedent for future developments in autonomous commercial transport, promising a more efficient, safer, and environmentally friendly approach to road logistics.
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