DAF Trucks and Einride team up to put self-driving electric lorries on Europe's roads
A Swedish autonomous driving startup and a Dutch truck giant are combining their technology to move heavy freight without a human at the wheel. Here is what they are building and when it could happen.
Key points
- Einride, founded in 2016, and DAF Trucks announced a partnership to fit Einride's self-driving software onto DAF's electric trucks.
- The system targets SAE Level 4 automation, meaning the truck handles all driving by itself under defined conditions, with no human needed behind the wheel.
- Initial hardware and software interface tests are planned for 2025, with the full autonomous driving system targeted for commissioning in 2027.
- DAF Trucks is owned by PACCAR, which has previously worked with self-driving companies Aurora and Kodiak.
- Einride went public via a SPAC merger, a type of stock-market listing, and recently bought Flipturn to build North America's largest heavy-duty truck charging network.
A lorry pulling out of a warehouse, merging onto a motorway, delivering its load without a driver ever touching the wheel. That's exactly what Einride and DAF Trucks are working toward.
The two companies announced a formal partnership this week. Stockholm-based Einride will integrate its autonomous driving software, Einride Drive, into DAF's electric truck range. DAF is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, a subsidiary of American truck manufacturer PACCAR, and builds some of Europe's most popular heavy-duty lorries.
What does "Level 4" actually mean for the driver?
No driver is needed at all, at least on specific routes and in defined conditions. SAE Level 4, a standardised rating scale used across the automotive industry where Level 5 is full autonomy in any situation, means the truck handles every driving task without human backup, provided it stays within pre-agreed zones or corridors.
In practice, a human worker could monitor several trucks remotely rather than sitting in each cab. Einride says this lets logistics companies redeploy drivers toward tasks needing human judgement: loading or customs checks, for instance. For an industry facing a well-documented shortage of qualified lorry drivers, that's a real draw. Our story on PlusAI's 2027 driverless target, published 11 August, found broadly the same logic driving investment across the sector.
What happens next?
Tests start soon. Einride, DAF, and TNO, a Dutch government-linked applied science institute, will spend this year defining and testing the physical and digital connections between Einride's software and DAF's truck hardware. Think of it as making sure two computers from different manufacturers can reliably talk to each other at 90 kilometres per hour.
All three parties are working with European transport authorities to ensure the combined platform meets legal requirements for public roads. Full software integration and commissioning is scheduled for 2027.
| Milestone | Target date |
|---|---|
| Interface testing on DAF truck | 2025 |
| Autonomous software integration | 2027 |
| Einride SPAC stock market listing | June 2025 |
| Flipturn charging network acquisition | Recent (2025) |
PACCAR hasn't arrived at self-driving trucks from nowhere. The company built experience through its North American Autonomous Vehicle Platform programme and has previously collaborated with Aurora and Kodiak, two well-known names in American autonomous trucking.
DAF's electric lineup runs from a 12-tonne XB Electric suited to city deliveries up to the XG Electric and XG+ Electric for longer motorway runs. The XD and XF Electric models from the same family won the International Truck of the Year 2026 award. Fitting Einride's self-driving system to those vehicles gives the partnership a solid base.
For shippers and logistics managers watching costs rise, autonomous electric freight promises lower fuel bills, fewer driver agency fees, trucks that can run through the night without rest breaks. Whether the technology delivers on that promise by 2027 depends on how testing goes this year.
Common questions
Will self-driving trucks take drivers' jobs?
In the short term, roles change more than they disappear. Drivers would shift toward remote monitoring or final-mile delivery rather than long motorway stints, though the longer-term picture for the profession is genuinely uncertain.
Is this already legal on public roads in Europe?
Not yet for fully driverless operation. Einride, DAF, and TNO are actively working with European authorities to gain the approvals needed. Current testing is on private or controlled routes while the regulatory framework catches up.
