DAF and Einride accelerate development of autonomous e-trucks Collaboration between DAF and Einride aims to deliver SAE Level 4 autonomous trucks in 2027, to help lower the impact of driver shortages. Published on August 15, 2026 Team IO+ selects and features the most important news stories on innovation and technology, carefully curated by our editors. DAF Trucks and Swedish tech company Einride are joining forces to commercialise autonomous electric trucks at scale. The goal is to integrate SAE Level 4 autonomy into DAF’s electric platform, enabling vehicles to drive independently under predefined conditions. This should address the growing shortage of truck drivers in Europe and the rising operating costs in the logistics sector. The first tests will start later this year, with the software scheduled to become operational in 2027. A milestone for autonomous trucks in Europe The collaboration between DAF and Einride marks a breakthrough in the European trucking industry. For the first time, autonomous driving software – Einride Driver – is being integrated into an existing electric truck platform from a major OEM. This differs from previous models, in which companies such as Einride developed their own vehicles. SAE Level 4 autonomy means that the truck can drive independently on fixed routes, such as depot-to-depot transport, without human intervention. This level of autonomy has not yet been approved for public roads in Europe, but the partners are already working with type-approval authorities to make this possible under EU Regulation 2022/1426. A solution to driver shortages and more efficient logistics Europe is facing an acute shortage of truck drivers: in 2025, there were 502,000 unfilled positions, representing 13% of total demand. Autonomous trucks could partly compensate for this shortage by taking over repetitive driving tasks, allowing drivers to focus on more complex logistics activities. In addition, the technology offers