Torc Robotics

Missteps and milestones mark 2022 in autonomous trucking

Docudrama script writers must be giddy at the “Succession”-esque tale unfolding at TuSimple Holdings. Just a year ago it leapfrogged the competition by demonstrating an 80-mile driverless truck pilot on a U.S. public highway. 

TuSimple repeated the technological feat, several times early in 2022. But then it gave way to repeated capriciousness that erased 95% of the company’s stock value. Could TuSimple be ripe for a takeover or sale to private equity? Consider:

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/missteps-and-milestones-mark-2022-in-autonomous-trucking

Commentary: $1B balance sheet could help limit TuSimple’s reputation damage

 “When winter comes, I’ll keep on moving. Tell me where my friends go.” — Oingo Boingo

The abandonment of TuSimple Holdings by investors, its manufacturing partner and a host of others suggests the one-time leader in autonomous trucking has hit bottom.

It probably has. But its billion-dollar balance sheet suggests it can recover from its wounds, several of which are self-inflicted.

For example, had co-founder Xiaodi Hou resisted the temptation to take over as CEO in March, many of the problems...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/commentary-1b-balance-sheet-could-help-limit-tusimples-reputation-damage

Kodiak Robotics gets $49.9M Army contract for off-road autonomy

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Autonomous truck software developer Kodiak Robotics beat out 31 competitors to win a two-year $49.9...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/kodiak-robotics-gets-499m-army-contract-for-off-road-autonomy

Truck Tech: Daum straight edition

Martin Daum rarely equivocates. The CEO of Daimler Truck sets courses the trucking industry often follows. If you ask him a question, expect a straight answer. We did. And so did he.

When Martin Daum talks …

Martin Daum is one of those people for whom a paraphrase of the famous line from the 1970s TV commercials by investment bank EF Hutton applies. When the CEO of Daimler Truck talks, the global trucking industry listens.

Martin Daum is the influential voice and CEO of Daimler Truck. (Photo: Alan...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-tech-daum-straight-edition

Truck Tech: ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ edition

TuSimple told federal officials about the crash of one of its supervised autonomous trucks and temporarily grounded its fleet. But it neglected to inform its partner, Navistar. Meanwhile, the incident led rival Torc Robotics to make some changes to its own self-driving truck processes.

Was meaning to say something…

Much ado about something has been made of the TuSimple supervised autonomous truck crash in April in Arizona. No one was hurt, but the unintended sharp left turn across a lane of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-tech-dont-ask-dont-tell-edition

Daimler Truck names new CEO for autonomous subsidiary Torc Robotics

Peter Vaughan Schmidt with autonomous Freightliner Cascadia

Daimler Truck is installing its own CEO to lead Torc Robotics, ending a 17-year era of Michael Fleming’s leadership. The move folds the independent subsidiary further into the world’s largest truck maker.

Peter Vaughan Schmidt, currently head of Daimler Truck’s Autonomous Technology Group, will become Torc CEO on Oct. 1, Daimler Truck and Torc said Thursday.

Fleming co-founded Torc in 2005 while a graduate student at Virginia Tech. It became part of Daimler in 2019 when the truck maker acquired a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/daimler-truck-names-new-ceo-for-autonomous-subsidiary-torc-robotics

Aurora adds Schneider to autonomous pilot customer list

Peterbilt 579 hauls orange Schneider trailer

Aurora Innovation is adding freight giant Schneider to a growing list of fleets testing its Aurora Driver autonomous trucking software.

“Understanding more about an autonomous future is the logical next step to build a network that continues to deliver the best service for our customers,” Rob Reich, Schneider executive vice president and chief administrative officer, said in a press release.

Schneider (NYSE: SNDR) hauls 19,318 loads per day for America’s biggest companies covering more than 9.3...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/aurora-adds-schneider-to-autonomous-pilot-customer-list

Battery on wheels: Startup pushes new way to power autonomous trucks

Startups seeking to commercialize autonomous freight modify existing trucks with the goal of removing the driver. Newcomer Solo AVT thinks a clean sheet approach — a cabless “battery on wheels” running hub to hub with teleoperation at either end — is a better answer.  

Electrification. Autonomous trucks. A better way?

In covering trucking electrification and autonomy, it can be easy to follow the quarter turns and occasional breakthroughs from the startups that position themselves as most likely...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/startup-seeks-to-disrupt-autonomous-trucking-sector

Se prevé que los camiones y autobuses automatizados alcancen los 1,2 millones en 2032

TuSimple autonomous truck on highway

Se espera que el número de camiones y autobuses automatizados crezca desde prácticamente cero este año hasta 1,2 millones en 2032, según un nuevo análisis de mercado de Guidehouse Insights.

Se prevé que la cuota de mercado global alcance algo más del 19% en 2032. China liderará el mercado con una cuota del 38,5%. Se espera que Norteamérica y Europa alcancen una cuota del 26% y el 29%, respectivamente, según el informe elaborado por Sam Abuelsamid, analista principal de Guidehouse.

El patrón de...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/se-preve-que-los-camiones-y-autobuses-automatizados-alcancen-los-12-millones-en-2032

Automated trucks and buses projected to reach 1.2 million by 2032

TuSimple autonomous truck on highway

The number of automated trucks and buses is expected to grow from practically zero this year to 1.2 million by 2032, according to new market analysis by Guidehouse Insights.

The overall market share is projected to reach just over 19% by 2032. China will lead the way with a 38.5% share. North America and Europe are expected to reach 26% and 29% shares, respectively, according to the report authored by Sam Abuelsamid, a Guidehouse principal analyst.

The hockey-stick pattern of automated trucks — a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/automated-trucks-and-buses-projected-to-reach-12-million-by-2032

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