Gatik AI and Isuzu Motors are collaborating to mass produce Class 3-7 self-driving trucks that don’t require drivers.
Isuzu will invest $30 million in Gatik to help further middle-mile autonomous driving development, according to a joint news release from the companies on Tuesday. That investment deepens an existing partnership that began in 2021.
“This advanced technology will also allow Isuzu to actively address pressing issues facing the industry, such as the worsening driver shortage and rapidly increasing delivery needs in North America,” the companies said in the news release.
The partnership will help make mass production a reality for self-driving trucks, according to Gatik CEO and co-founder Gautam Narang.
The companies will co-develop an AV compatible chassis with redundant systems, or backups in case of failures, covering areas such as brakes, steering and sensors.
Isuzu will have a dedicated manufacturing facility for making the truck platform, a significant shift from current autonomous manufacturing processes in which self-driving vehicles are simply modified, Gatik said in a blog post.
Gatik is using the investment as momentum for its progress in the middle mile, saying this will help the company maintain market dominance. The Mountain View, California-based company has delivered over 600,000 commercial orders and has deployed autonomous trucks in Ontario, Canada, as well as Arkansas and Texas in the U.S.
