IVECO and Plus have launched an autonomous trucking pilot in Europe. IVECO will serve as the European partner of self-driving tech firm Plus in the pilot which aims to validate Plus’s autonomous trucking technology with IVECO’s S-WAY heavy-duty truck.

The first trial will test performance of Plus’s integrated system in the IVECO S-WAY across a range of environments and driving conditions. It will include using both the driver-in (i.e., with driver on board) PlusDrive solution and Level 4 autonomous driving technology. The pilot is aimed at collecting data and validating the design integral to IVECO’s S-WAY autonomous production.

Marco Liccardo, designated Chief Technology & Digital Officer of Iveco Group, said: “As the only autonomous trucking technology company that has already started delivering a commercial product to customers in the heavy-haulage sector, Plus has developed a clear and compelling strategy to launch a driver-in solution first and then a Level 4 autonomous truck. This is in line with our customer-centric view of a more automated and safe truck aiming at improving productivity and reducing operating costs.”

“We have always emphasised the need for expansive testing to validate that an autonomous driving system is able to handle diverse weather, terrains, and driving scenarios. This pilot will accelerate our efforts to start production of autonomous trucks that combine Plus’s production-ready, high performance, full-stack Level 4 autonomous driving technology with IVECO’s deep engineering expertise and focus on safety and sustainability,” said Shawn Kerrigan, COO and Co-founder of Plus.