TuSimple Partners with Hegelmann Group to Equip Trucks With Its Autonomous Technology

Autonomous trucking company TuSimple is expanding its network by partnering with a European transport and logistics company that is currently offering reservations for SAE Level 4 autonomous trucks for use in North America.

San Diego-based TuSimple announced last week that it is working with Hegelmann Group, a Kaunas, Lithuania-based company that operates a fleet of more than 5,000 transport units around the world.

The new autonomous trucks will take advantage of TuSimple’s driving system, which uses AI, 360-degree cameras, lidar, and radar to help autonomous trucks “see more, process more, and react faster,” according to TuSimple.

TuSimple’s technology provides truck with more data for awareness

The company said with its technology, autonomous trucks have the capability “to see up to 1,000 meters away, locate objects at night and bring massive amounts of data to simulation, ensuring the vehicle reliably makes the best choice in any scenario.”

In 2021, one of the company's semi-truck completed a run without a human in the vehicle. The company said it will continue to run similar test throughout 2022 as it prepares for commercialization. To date, the company has raised $648 million.

In addition to running TuSimple’s system, the trucks will run on a global vehicle platform that was developed by Lisle, III- based Navistar, the companies said. TuSimple said it is working in lockstep with the Navistar to “demonstrate the level of redundancy, reliability, consistency, and safety necessary to remove driver from the truck.”

Addressing labor shortages and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

"TuSimple's innovations will elevate our ability to compete and prosper in the North American market and are analogous to our stated objective to become a global logistics technology adopter," said Andrew Jasinskas, business development project manager at Hegelmann USA in statement. "Undoubtedly, autonomous trucks with TuSimple technology are the future of transportation, and Hegelmann's strategy is to likewise be a standard bearer for innovations that push safety and efficiency to the next era of logistics excellence."

Hegelmann said it partnered with TuSimple "to address the ongoing driver shortage while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and improving vehicle and environmental safety."

"We are pleased to add Hegelmann to our rapidly growing fleet partners who wish to adopt, integrate, and scale SAE L4 truck operation in the United States," said Lee White, vice president of strategy at TuSimple in a statement. "Hegelmann chose TuSimple as their autonomous vehicle technology partner due to TuSimple's leadership in the rapidly approaching full-commercialization of autonomous vehicles."