Einride and DAF Trucks will integrate Einride’s autonomous driving system into DAF’s electric truck platform, with initial interface testing scheduled for 2026 and software integration and commissioning to follow in 2027. The collaboration places Einride Driver, the company’s autonomous drive system, into a platform whose XD and XF Electric models were jointly voted “International Truck of the Year 2026.” Dutch applied research institute TNO will work alongside both companies on defining and testing the integration. The partners say the initiative is a step toward large-scale commercialization of SAE Level 4 autonomous electric freight, which they position as a response to driver shortages and rising operating costs.
Highlights
- Einride’s autonomous drive system will be integrated into DAF’s electric truck platform, with the required vehicle interfaces established for scalable autonomous operations.
- Initial tests and validation of key interfaces run during 2026, followed in 2027 by integration and commissioning of Einride’s autonomous driving software on a DAF truck.
- TNO, the Dutch independent research institute for applied science and innovation, joins the effort and supports work with type approval authorities for future public-road expansion.
- DAF’s electric lineup runs from the 13.2-ton (12-tonne) XB Electric for city distribution to the XG and XG+ Electric for longer-haul applications.
What the Integration Covers
As a first step, Einride, DAF, and TNO will define and test how Einride’s autonomous drive system fits within DAF’s electric truck platform. That work includes establishing the interfaces required to support safe and scalable autonomous operations.
With TNO’s assistance, the two companies are working with type approval authorities to make the platform compliant for future expansion onto public roads. Interface tests and validation are set for 2026. Integration and commissioning of Einride’s autonomous driving software follow in 2027, with all subsequent interface validation and functional testing carried out on a DAF truck.
What Does SAE Level 4 Mean for Freight?
Level 4 describes a high level of driving automation in which the vehicle independently performs repetitive driving tasks under predefined conditions, without human intervention. Einride and DAF frame the operational case around redeployment rather than replacement: available drivers shift to logistics activities where their expertise and judgment carry more weight.
“By leveraging DAF’s decades of manufacturing excellence and market strength, we can expedite the global scale-up of Einride’s autonomous technology,” said Henrik Green, Chief Technology Officer at Einride. “This collaboration validates our vehicle-agnostic approach to autonomy and brings us one step closer to deploying safe, scalable Level 4 autonomy at commercial scale.”
How the PACCAR Connection Factors In
DAF Trucks is a subsidiary of PACCAR Inc, and the initiative builds on PACCAR’s existing automated driving activities. The company has accumulated experience through its North American Autonomous Vehicle Platform (AVP) program. PACCAR is also advancing work across the broader autonomous trucking ecosystem alongside emerging full-stack technology providers, which the companies describe as a reflection of how quickly software-defined autonomy solutions for heavy-duty transport are evolving. According to the announcement, insights from those programs create additional opportunities to accelerate autonomous capability development within the DAF platform.
“This collaboration is a testament to DAF’s commitment to innovation and future-proofing the logistics sector,” said Jeroen van den Oetelaar, DAF Trucks‘ Chief Engineer and member of the board. “By combining our premium truck platform with leading autonomous technology, we are actively shaping a more efficient, safer, and sustainable freight ecosystem.”
DAF’s Electric Truck Range
DAF offers a full series of electric trucks. The range starts with the 13.2-ton (12-tonne) XB Electric for city distribution and extends to the XG and XG+ Electric for longer-haul work. The XG Electric and XG+ Electric share their engineering base with the XD and XF Electric, which were jointly voted “International Truck of the Year 2026” on efficiency, driveline smoothness, and driver comfort.
Einride, founded in Stockholm in 2016, operates a platform combining AI-powered freight intelligence, proprietary autonomous technology, and one of the largest electric heavy-duty fleets in operation. The company serves customers across North America, Europe, and the Middle East through a dual model spanning Freight-Capacity-as-a-Service and a Software-as-a-Service platform. Its recent expansion has included a Texas autonomous freight corridor along State Highway 130 and a defense logistics initiative with Centinus.
