Swedish self-driving freight startup Einride is partnering with GE Appliances to bring electric and autonomous transport to scale.
It is the first partnership for Einride in the U.S. and is part of GE’s billion-dollar investment in technology to update U.S. manufacturing and distribution operations.
When launched, Einride will implement electric transportation solutions at three of GE’s locations in Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky, specifically the 750-acre Appliance Park campus in Louisville.
The fleet will serve as a model for the U.S. transportation ecosystem to improve logistics speed and reduce carbon emissions. GE said it expects to save 970 tons of CO2 emissions in the first year, a key aspect to GE’s commitment to reduce its environmental footprint.
“This marks an important milestone for the freight industry in the U.S., as it’s the first time an autonomous, electric, and remote-operated pod system is being installed on the scale in North America,” said Robert Falck, CEO at Einride. “The system will allow GEA to reduce its environmental footprint and reap the benefits of Einrides' world-leading technology.”
Over the past few years, Einride has been developing its self-driving technology to enable Level 4 autonomous driving and has started pilot projects in Europe including a deal with Swedish grocery chain Lidl for freight transportation. Last year, Einride transported a line of Oatly drinks via its pods to Lidl as part of a project to prove how the vehicles operate.
Earlier this year, Einride formed a partnership with Bridgestone to include smart-sensing tires for electrified and autonomous Class 8 vehicles to offer new layers of safety and efficiency in transportation.
