In a landmark achievement for the autonomous trucking industry, TuSimple’s first driverless truck has successfully completed a human-free run on public roads in China. This pioneering trial, referred to as a “driver-out” run, is a first for China, positioning TuSimple at the forefront of transformative transportation technologies.
The driverless truck navigated a 40-mile route approved by Shanghai’s government, starting from Yangshan Deep-water Port Logistics Park and culminating at Donghai Bridge. The challenging journey involved the truck navigating through both urban and highway environments under an array of weather conditions, including fog and crosswinds. Other navigational challenges included dealing with traffic signals, on-ramps, off-ramps, lane changes, emergency lane vehicles, and partial lane closures.
The success of this groundbreaking run signifies the second time TuSimple has executed a driver-out operation on public roads. The inaugural run of this nature took place in Arizona, United States, in December 2021.
Details about whether the driverless truck was able to navigate autonomously throughout the entire run remain undisclosed. Similarly, TuSimple has not revealed why it has not attempted another driver-out run in the U.S. or its plans for additional fully autonomous runs in the future.
This significant milestone in China showcases TuSimple’s heightened focus on its Asia-based operations. Following scrutiny from U.S. regulators, the company recently decided to retain its China unit after initially considering its sale. This decision was made following several executive reshuffles and multiple rounds of layoffs, predominantly affecting the U.S.-based staff.
Further bolstering its Asia-focused business, TuSimple also began testing its driverless trucks in Japan earlier this month, underlining its increasing investment in Asian markets. In the wake of this announcement, the company’s stock experienced an 11% upturn, though it has since readjusted. Currently, TuSimple faces the threat of a Nasdaq delisting due to its delay in filing the last two quarterly results, with a hearing scheduled for June 22.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the specifics of the successful run and the company’s future, TuSimple’s accomplishment in China marks a significant breakthrough in the autonomous trucking industry. As this sector continues to flourish, this development could stimulate further advancements in autonomous trucking technology. The rapidly evolving landscape of autonomous transportation is sure to provide a dynamic backdrop for TuSimple’s next steps.
AWJ CHOICE: UK’s Top 10 Best-Selling Cars of 2023 Revealed
