Thursday, August 15, 2019

TuSimple Gets Strategic Investment From UPS For Self Driving Trucks

Tucson, Arizona-based TuSimple, which is developing self-driving tractor trailers, has scored a strategic investment from UPS. Size of the investment was not announced. According to UPS, the minority investment also comes as part of a deal to test self-driving tractor trailers for the shipper. UPS says it is working with TuSimple to study potential network efficiency with future, autonomous systems. Currently, the law says that there must be a driver in a vehicle at all times, but it's clear the company is hoping that laws may change in the future--reducing the cost of shipping goods in its tractor trailers by 30 percent. The self driving tractor trailer testing will occur on a route between Phoenix and Tucson. UPS says it is working with TuSimple to better understand the requirements for Level 4 Autonomous trucking in its network, where drivers are required to be in a vehicle at all times in case they need to take control.