Einride AB this week announced that it has launched its transportation systems and services in the U.S. The Stockholm, Sweden-based company has also introduced products adapted for the U.S. market, partnered with strategic customers, hired its first remote truck driver, and established a New York headquarters.
“The innovative spirit of the U.S. is the standard by which all others are measured, and the American transportation market is the biggest in the world,” said Robert Falck, founder and CEO of Einride. “The U.S. freight market is one of the most competitive, and to be an industry leader, you need to play in this league. We have the technology and solution to bring the biggest change in the freight industry since the adoption of the diesel truck 100 years ago.”
Founded in 2016, Einride claimed that it was the first company to operate an autonomous, electric freight vehicle on a public road in 2019. The company said its technology enables users to execute on electrification and automation, order and track shipments, oversee routes and assignments, visualize data, and gain insights.
Einride launches U.S. products
At launch, Einride is introducing a new range of global products. They include Einride Saga, an operating system for the movement of freight, a U.S. version of the Einride Pod truck, and the new Flatbed Pod.
The U.S. version of the Einride Pod will have the same SAE Level 4 self-driving technology and architecture allowing for safe operations without a driver in the vehicle as its European sibling. The company added that it will be adapted for U.S. roads and conditions.
The Flatbed Pod is a modular vehicle built to accommodate multiple shipping needs, including transporting containers to ease the transition between sea and road freight seamless, said Einride.
Through Saga, shippers will be able to access a roadmap to cost-competitive electrification and automation via the Evolve app. They will also be able to order and track shipments via Book, oversee routes and assignment through Orchestrate, and visualize data and gain insights through Explore.
Backed by analysis from Saga, Einride estimated that at least 40% of U.S. road freight transportation could go electric today at the same cost as diesel or cheaper.
Autonomous trucks lead to new job category
In addition to introducing its technologies to major industrial users, Einride said it has hired the world’s first remote trucker. A single remote operator will oversee and control multiple Pods in real time from a central location. The company plans to reveal the first person to take this new type of job later this year.
Einride said it has committed to creating at least 2,000 new jobs within its first five years of operation in the U.S. The proliferation of electric and autonomous transport will create jobs across the supply chain, from electric infrastructure installation and maintenance to the widespread construction of 5G networks, the company said.
Einride said that in contrast to conventional trucking, remote Pod operation will be safer, involve more regular hours, and provide a more hospitable work environment.
Einride expands, sets up New York HQ
Einride said it operates Europe’s largest fleet of heavy electric trucks for customers such as Coca-Cola, SKF, and Lidl. The company's technical collaborators include Ericsson and Siemens, and it has also partnered with customers Oatly, Bridgestone, and GE Appliances, a Haier company.
Since Oct. 1, 2020, Einride said its partners have seen a 90% decrease in CO2 emissions with electrical transport, while matching the cost of diesel.
Einride will officially establish a U.S. headquarters in New York, where parts of the leadership team will be based. In addition to its headquarters, the company plans to open up regional offices in Austin, San Francisco and in the South East.
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