Isuzu Motors and Gatik are teaming up to accelerate mass-production of SAE Level 4 (L4), production-ready, autonomous trucks. The companies said the new trucks will be designed to operate at commercial scale without a human driver present.

A Groundbreaking Partnership

According to the companies, the agreement marks the first time an OEM and autonomy partner have committed to work together to establish a dedicated production facility to mass produce L4-capable autonomous trucks. They called the move a significant step beyond the R&D phase of other industry and OEM collaborations.

As part of this agreement, Isuzu has invested $30 million in Gatik.

The two companies said they have been working together successfully since 2021. This deepening of the partnership to mass-produce L4 autonomous trucks will help accelerate the deployment of the technology at scale, they added.

Under the terms of the agreement, Isuzu and Gatik will collaborate on the design, development, and production of an SAE L4, production-ready, autonomous truck with robust and safety-critical redundant systems (including braking, steering and sensors, as well as software) with complete validation required for operating at scale without a human driver.

This truck platform will be manufactured on a first-of-its-kind production line at a dedicated manufacturing facility that will be established by Isuzu and begin operations in 2027. 

Middle-Mile Autonomous Trucks

Both companies said that manufacturing at scale is key to commercializing the autonomous trucking industry and this partnership represents a significant development in the industry.

Current autonomy manufacturing platforms simply modify existing trucks into self-driving vehicles at the end of a production line, the companies said.

The deployment of L4 autonomous vehicles at scale will allow Gatik and Isuzu to make a meaningful impact on the worsening driver shortage in North America and rapidly increasing needs and expectations of consumers. 

Isuzu intends to enter the middle-mile autonomous driving market in the low cab forward truck segment in the United States and Canada.

First deliveries of L4-capable autonomous trucks from the new manufacturing facility are expected to be delivered exclusively to Gatik’s fleet customers.