Gatik, a developer of autonomous middle-mile logistics solutions, has announced a strategic investment from Nippon Express Holdings.

Gatik said this investment will further strengthen Gatik’s position in the North American logistics landscape, accelerating the deployment of its autonomous technology across the region.

Mile-Mile Autonomous Leadership

Gatik said its momentum continues to build as it leverages a series of strategic investment partnerships. The company is seeking to solidify its leadership in the middle-mile segment of the supply chain.

Specializing in the often-overlooked routes between distribution centers, fulfillment centers and retail locations, Gatik said its technology addresses critical challenges like driver shortages and supply chain inefficiencies. Using autonomous technology in these applications results in faster deliveries and reduced costs, the company said.

With its autonomous transportation network already operating successfully in regions such as Texas and Arkansas in the U.S., and Ontario, Canada, Gatik said it is already reshaping the North American logistics landscape.

Recent investment partnerships with ITOCHU and Isuzu Motors further accelerate this transformation, underscoring the industry’s confidence in Gatik’s safe, transparent, and regulator-approved approach to middle-mile autonomy.

“Middle-mile autonomy is undoubtedly the first application in autonomous trucking to achieve scale in commercial applications,” said Gautam Narang, CEO and co-founder of Gatik. “It’s also critical for solving the most pressing logistics issues businesses are facing today—ensuring faster deliveries, addressing growing labor shortages, reducing costs, and meeting the rising demand for goods in this era of rapid e-commerce growth. Our investment partnership with NX Group is a testament to the impact we’re making in North America and the confidence of global partners in our ability to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

A Focus on Shorter, Fixed and Repeatable Routes

Since its founding in 2017, Gatik said it has been at the forefront of the autonomous logistics industry. The company has specialized in pioneering the use of autonomous vehicles (AVs) for middle-mile deliveries.

In 2021, Gatik said it achieved the world’s first fully autonomous deliveries with Walmart.

By focusing on shorter, fixed, and repeatable routes, Gatik claims it has commercialized its autonomous technology more rapidly than long-haul solutions, which it said face more significant regulatory hurdles and unpredictable driving conditions.

This focus on middle-mile logistics provides Gatik with a unique competitive advantage, the company said. It added that a middle-mile focus enables quicker deployment of its technologies, reducing time to market, and effectively addressing the challenges of the logistics sector.

Related: How to Find Business Opportunities in Last- and Middle-Mile Deliveries