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How smart tugs are transforming the face of US waterways

US transportation has steadily become more efficient through advances in engine technology, infrastructure upgrades and increasingly sophisticated logistics networks. The next wave is different. Automation is turning transportation networks into continuously optimising systems that consume less energy per unit moved, operate for longer hours, reduce labour bottlenecks and reshape demand for fuels and electricity. Across rivers, roads, rail and air, software increasingly determines how energy is consumed and how goods move throughout the US. Driverless trucks are hauling commercial loads in Texas, while AI is being deployed on Mississippi River tugs. Railroads are relying more on machine vision and automated inspection systems, as aviation regulators are preparing for a future in which cargo flights may operate with far less human involvement. Viewed separately, these developments may appear incremental. Together, they point to a freight economy that is increasingly autonomous, continuously optimised and more productive. Transportation is the largest source of energy demand in the US, accounting for around 37 per cent of total energy consumption, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). It also accounts for around 70 per cent of total US demand for petroleum products. Any major overhaul of the transportation sector could therefore have far-reaching repercussions for both US and global energy markets over the next decade. The oldest freight artery in North America — the Mississippi River — is among the newest adopters of AI. America's inland waterways move hundreds of millions of tons of commodities annually, including fertiliser, grain, biofuel feedstocks, petroleum products and chemicals. The Mississippi system remains one of the most energy-efficient ways to move bulk cargo, with waterborne transportation accounting for only four per cent of US transportation fuel use. Traditionally, river navigation depended on human experience. Captains relied on local knowledge, visual observation and accumulated judgement to navigate changing river conditions.

Orange EV secures $100M credit facility with Wells Fargo to fuel yard electrification growth

Orange EV secures $100M credit facility with Wells Fargo to fuel yard electrification growth ● 2 days ago Orange EV, a US manufacturer of zero-emissions terminal trucks, has secured a $100 million revolving credit facility led by Wells Fargo Bank. The senior secured facility will strengthen the company's balance sheet and provide liquidity for working capital, expansion of its OptiGrid subsidiary, and growth of its rental and leasing platform. OptiGrid develops battery-integrated fast charging solutions that enable rapid deployment of charging infrastructure without costly utility upgrades. The technology can compress deployment timelines from months or years to days or weeks. CEO Kurt Neutgens said the company is on track for one in four new yard trucks purchased or leased to be an Orange EV vehicle. The firm has tripled production and recently deployed its 2,000th electric terminal truck, with a recent order for 600 units. Source: morningstar.com Orangeev Riverside, United States 54

Prompt: Wall Street Is Coming for AI Infrastructure

Sponsored by Google Cloud Choosing Your First Generative AI Use Cases To get started with generative AI, first focus on areas that can improve human experiences with information. What AI infrastructure’s transformation into an investable asset class means for the next stage of enterprise AI. Editor’s Note: Welcome to Prompt, your weekly briefing on the shifting AI landscape. We provide an analytical look at the week’s biggest developments, paired with a curated roundup of the stories that matter. What happens when AI infrastructure stops being viewed primarily as technology spending and starts being treated as an asset class? We may be about to find out. Nvidia said this week that it is partnering with six of the world's largest financial firms to mobilize more than $500 billion for AI infrastructure. It's not simply about financing more data centers. The move is intended to help establish compute and full-stack AI infrastructure as an investable asset class. That's a significant shift in how the industry thinks about funding AI's growth. The idea is to bring much larger pools of outside capital into the AI buildout. Nvidia and its financial partners plan to establish independent financing platforms that will provide dedicated capital to frontier AI labs, enterprises and AI cloud providers. That capital can then be used to finance data center construction and Nvidia hardware, helping customers build what Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang describes as a new class of productive, investable infrastructure: AI factories. The scale of the Nvidia initiative illustrates just how capital-intensive the AI buildout has become. And increasingly, that investment extends well beyond compute. SpaceX and Tesla, for example, revealed an initial $16.8 billion investment in Terafab, a massive semiconductor and advanced-computing campus planned for Texas. The project could ultimately represent as much as $119 billion in investment, according to

Torc Robotics joins Auto-ISAC to strengthen cybersecurity in connected CMVs

BLACKSBURG, Va. —Torc Robotics is joining Automotive Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Auto-ISAC), a global member-driven organization dedicated to advancing cybersecurity collaboration across the automotive industry. “Cybersecurity isn’t added at the end of development; it’s built into the product from the design stage,” said Mike Westra, senior director of product cybersecurity, Torc. “As we prepare to commercialize and scale autonomous trucking, participating in Auto-ISAC helps us strengthen our approach in collaboration with the broader autonomous industry, ensuring our product is designed to address evolving cyber threats throughout its lifecycle.” Cybersecurity Essential in the Freight Ecosystem As autonomous trucks become more connected and integrated into the freight ecosystem, cybersecurity is an essential part of building systems that are safe, reliable and ready for commercial deployment. Through Auto-ISAC, Torc will collaborate with automakers, suppliers and commercial vehicle organizations to share cyber threat intelligence, contribute to emerging best practices and help strengthen the resilience of connected vehicle technologies. “Auto-ISAC provides a trusted forum for members to share timely cyber threat intelligence, develop cybersecurity best practices and coordinate responses to emerging threats across the automotive sector,” Torc said.” Torc’s participation reflects its broader commitment to industry collaboration as the company continues developing autonomous trucks for long-haul freight operations in the U.S.” Evolving Techonolgy “Delivering autonomous trucks at commercial scale requires disciplined engineering across safety, security, reliability and operations,” said Mike Avitabile, CEO, Torc. “Our participation in Auto-ISAC strengthens that work by helping ensure cybersecurity advances alongside the broader technology and industry ecosystem.” Through its membership, Torc will participate in Auto-ISAC working groups and collaborate with industry peers on cybersecurity guidance, information sharing and best practices for connected and autonomous vehicle systems. “The cyber threat landscape is constantly evolving, and no organization can stay ahead of it alone,” said Faye Francy, executive director, Auto-ISAC. “By

Kodiak AI secures permit to test <b>autonomous trucks</b> in California

Kodiak AI secures permit to test autonomous trucks in California (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 14 ago - AI-powered autonomous vehicle technology provider Kodiak AI said it has received a drivered testing permit under the California Department of Motor Vehicles' (DMV's) newly expanded Autonomous Vehicle Tester (AVT) program, which allows permitted heavy-duty autonomous vehicle developers to test and deploy their technology on California roads for the first time. The permit allows Kodiak to operate in California with a safety driver behind the wheel. It marks the first step in the DMV's phased permitting approach, which progresses from drivered testing to driver-out testing and, ultimately, driver-out deployment. 'This permit allows us to begin the first phase of scaling autonomous trucking coast-to-coast, while ensuring appropriate safety oversight from California regulators," said CEO Don Burnette California's DMV approved new regulations on April 28 that allow heavy-duty autonomous vehicles to receive permits to. test on the state's public roads for the first time. (RADIOCOR) 14-08-26 14:56:30 (0337) 5 NNNN

<b>Self-Driving Truck</b> Market Size, Revenue, Trend Report 2026 to 2035

Self-Driving Truck Market Size, Revenue, Trend Report 2026 to 2035 What is Self-Driving Truck Market? Global Self-Driving Truck Market Size is valued at USD 2.54 Bn in 2025 and is predicted to reach USD 64.72 Bn by the year 2035 at a 38.4% CAGR during the forecast period for 2026 to 2035. Self-Driving Truck Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Distribution by Component (Hardware, Software, Services), By Application (Logistics and Transportation, Construction and Manufacturing, Mining, Port, Others), By Level of Automation (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5), Telecom and IT, Media and Entertainment, Travel and Logistics, Other Verticals), By Propulsion Type (Internal Combustion, Hybrid Transmission, Electric Transmission) and Segment Forecasts, 2026 to 2035. The self-driving truck market includes the development, commercialization, and deployment of autonomous trucks. These trucks are equipped with sensing technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, high-definition mapping, and connectivity features that allow them to operate with little or no human help. They use components like LiDAR, radar, cameras, GPS, onboard computing systems, and driving software to handle essential driving tasks. These tasks include lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, obstacle detection, navigation, and decision-making. Self-driving trucks are being developed with different levels of automation, from driver-assistance systems to fully autonomous vehicles (SAE Level 5). They aim to improve freight movement in long-haul, middle-mile, mining, port, and industrial applications. The technology increasingly integrates with telematics, fleet management systems, and cloud-based platforms to improve operational visibility, predictive maintenance, and vehicle performance. The market is growing steadily as logistics providers, truck manufacturers, technology developers, and fleet operators invest in autonomous transportation solutions. They seek to modernize freight operations and meet changing supply chain needs. More pilot deployments, strategic partnerships between commercial vehicle manufacturers and autonomous technology firms, and continuous improvements in AI-driven perception and driving software are

CiDi reports 1900 <b>autonomous</b> mining <b>trucks</b> shipped as deployment scales

CiDi, Hong Kong-listed company, has reported more than 1,900 cumulative shipments of autonomous mining trucks, as the Chinese technology company expands deployments across nearly 40 mines worldwide. The figure represents a 213% increase from the same period a year earlier, according to CiDi’s interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. The company said seven mines are now routinely operating fleets of more than 100 autonomous mining trucks, while the largest deployment at a single mine exceeds 220 vehicles. CiDi said its autonomous mining solution, MetaMine, supports unmanned haulage across multiple mining workflows, including overburden stripping, coal loading and hauling, waste-dump transportation, energy replenishment and crusher feeding. The company secured an order for 500 autonomous mining trucks from Guangna Group in February 2026. CiDi described the agreement as the “world’s largest single formal procurement order” in the autonomous mining truck sector. Beyond mining, CiDi said it secured domestic and overseas orders for more than 400 autonomous logistics trucks during the first half of 2026, with some vehicles already delivered for commercial trials. The company’s wider autonomous driving business remained its main source of revenue. Revenue from the segment increased 107% year on year to RMB784m during the first half, accounting for 97.6% of CiDi’s total revenue. Overall revenue reached RMB804m, up 97% year on year. Gross profit increased 204% to RMB212m, while gross margin rose from 17% to 26%. CiDi’s adjusted net loss narrowed 82% year on year to approximately RMB19.68m. The company said its cash and cash equivalents reached RMB1.214bn at the end of the reporting period, compared with RMB186m a year earlier. The company is also extending its technology platform beyond autonomous haulage into mining robotics.

Iran War triggers Chinese e-<b>truck</b> boom in Asian markets

China's exports of electric heavy trucks to South and Southeast Asia have doubled since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran in February, adding to an already-rapid domestic shift that has offered the world’s largest vehicle market a partial shield from surging pump prices. In the four months following the war's start, China's heavy e-truck exports have grown to 16,823 vehicles, with shipments to South Asia up fivefold and those to Southeast Asia almost triple last year's level. Subscribe to Automotive World to continue reading Sign up now and gain unlimited access to our news, analysis, data, and research Already a member?

Pony AI, Uber expand tie-up to deploy over 2,000 robotaxis in 5 European cities

- The two will build on the existing service in Zagreb, Croatia, adding 4 European cities, with plans to expand into the Middle East. - Pony AI provides the Level 4 autonomous driving technology, while Uber provides the global mobility platform. Pony AI (NASDAQ: PONY) said it will work with Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER) to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis in Europe, accelerating its expansion in the region. The two companies will build on the partnership launched earlier this year in Zagreb, Croatia, and expand to 4 additional European cities, according to a Pony AI statement on Friday. Details of the roll-out will be announced in phases, and the expanded partnership also includes deployment in the Middle East. The Zagreb service is coming soon to the Uber platform, allowing users to hail a Pony AI robotaxi directly in the Uber app. Pony AI provides its L4 autonomous driving technology, along with the operational and rider-experience expertise built through multiple large-scale fleets. Uber provides customer access through its global mobility platform, including booking, payment and customer service, alongside its network of human drivers. Day-to-day fleet operations will be handled by local partners selected in each market. The approach allows vehicle funding and ownership to be arranged flexibly by market, providing a framework for rapid replication in new cities. The partnership dates back to May 2025, when the two planned to bring Pony AI's robotaxis onto the Uber platform in international markets. In March 2026, the companies worked with Croatian mobility company Verne to launch Europe's first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, with Verne serving as the local fleet owner and operator. "This expanded agreement marks an important new phase in the partnership between Pony AI and Uber," said James Peng, founder and CEO of Pony AI, in the statement. The expansion

Japan's T2 raises $30M to build <b>self-driving trucks</b> | Dealroom.co

What's the deal? Tokyo-based autonomous driving startup T2 has raised 5 billion JPY ($30 million) in a Series B round. Eleven individual investors backed the round, which closed in July. That brings total funding since T2's 2020 founding to more than 16 billion JPY ($100 million). What's the endgame? T2 develops autonomous driving systems for long-haul freight and provides related services for the trucking industry. Its core aim is to support Japan's logistics sector. Why now? Japan faces a growing shortage of truck drivers, driven by the country's changing demographics. T2 is positioning its technology to fill that gap. The signal: The round ranks in the 95th percentile by size among all-time Series B deals in Japan, based on a sample of 1,063 rounds. That places T2 among the larger domestic bets on autonomous freight as an ageing workforce pushes logistics toward automation. Read more: Truck & Bus Builder Image credit: jurvetson 90

Who Gets a Ticket When a <b>Driverless</b> Car Is Pulled Over?

California has started issuing traffic citations to driverless cars under a new set of Department of Motor Vehicles regulations that took effect July 1, closing a gap that had left autonomous vehicles effectively immune from tickets even when they ran red lights or blocked active emergency scenes. The DMV announced the rules Tuesday, April 28, describing them as the most comprehensive autonomous vehicle framework adopted by any state to date. Under the new system, the agency will issue “Notices of AV Noncompliance” to autonomous vehicle companies whenever their cars commit moving violations, including running red lights, failing to yield to pedestrians, or entering an active emergency zone. Companies must report the details of each incident to the DMV within 72 hours, or within 24 hours for more serious cases. For a car accident lawyer evaluating a claim involving a robotaxi, the change addresses some evidentiary gaps. Existing traffic law was written around the assumption that a human sits behind the wheel. Officers who witnessed a driverless vehicle break the law had no mechanism to document it the way they would a citation issued to a person. When Robotaxis Were Pulled Over Without a Driver The issue became public last September, when a San Bruno police officer pulled over a Waymo for making an illegal U-turn and found there was no driver to cite. The department notified Waymo directly so the company could correct the software error, since remote human operators, often based in the Philippines, provide navigational guidance to the vehicles when needed. “I think it’s a great standard that’s set in place,” San Bruno Police Sgt. Scott Smithmatungol said. “If human drivers are to be held accountable or held to a standard, I think autonomous vehicle companies should be as well.” The regulations also grew out of a December

How an electric <b>driverless truck</b> work at a coal mine in China

At the Yimin open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia, 100 battery-electric haul trucks work through minus 40 degree winters with no cab, no driver and no diesel There is a coal mine in Inner Mongolia where the trucks have nowhere for a driver to sit. Take a look at this truck for instance. It doesn’t have a cab, windscreen, or seat. The truck comes with a battery pack, an electric motor, and nearly a 100-ton load capacity, working in a pit that may drop to almost -40 degrees in winter. Back in May 2025, at the Yimin open-pit mine near Hulunbuir, China switched on 100 of these Huaneng Ruichi trucks at once—the largest single fleet of its kind anywhere on Earth. It’s been a year since then. They are still running, with each truck delivering about 120% of the output of a human-driven diesel equivalent. Right there, in the same region of Holingol, AT150 driverless trucks have also started operating. So, how did a coal pit in northern China end up with the most advanced haulage fleet on the planet? Does the financial case actually stack up, and who else is racing to build them? Well, back in 2020, China had just around 90 autonomous vehicles working in its open-pit coal mines. By 2025, that figure passed 4,000. You can attribute this massive acceleration directly to government policy. In 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission ordered an immediate push toward intelligent mining, setting a goal for automated baseline operations by 2035. But there was an even harsher driver, and that was safety. After years of fatal accidents, regulators recognized that the single fastest way to prevent injuries in a pit was to remove human operators entirely. On a global scale, China was already late to the race. Rio Tinto

Euro Vibe Coding Standout Lovable Now Valued at $13.3B

Sponsored by Google Cloud Choosing Your First Generative AI Use Cases To get started with generative AI, first focus on areas that can improve human experiences with information. The fast-growing vendor has attracted significant international funding. Sweden-based vibe coding startup Lovable’s meteoric rise continues with a $400 million Series C funding round at a $13.3 billion valuation. The valuation is more than double the vendor’s $6.6 billion valuation last December, when it completed a Series B round of $330 million. The latest funding round was led by Silicon Valley venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, and co-led by the Europe Scaleup Fund, managed by EQT, a new private-public funding vehicle backed by the European Commission designed to support European companies. Lovable, based in Stockholm, has been one of the big winners in the explosive rise of vibe coding, in which automated processes and AI tools enable those with little experience in programming to develop apps with simple prompts. This approach has been a big success for Lovable, with apps built with its technology now attracting 900 million visits a month, according to the vendor. Among the major companies Lovable says are now using its products to create new software and replace redundant tools are Adidas, Nvidia and Deutsche Telekom. While Lovable says its early days were about giving people the capability to “turn an idea into software,” it has been steadily evolving its offering with the continuing addition of new features such as payment functionality, better SEO and AI-search tools, deeper integrations with the likes of Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, and automatic security scanning. Now, with the new funding secured, the vendor is promising further improvements, including more proactive software, which better understands what customers are trying to build; developing its data loop to ensure products built by customers have

DAF and Einride Partner to Pursue EU Level 4 Approval No <b>Truck</b> Has Cleared

Europe's regulatory framework for fully driverless commercial trucks has been on the books since 2022 — and as of today, not a single vehicle has received EU Regulation 2022/1426 type-approval under it. That gap is now the stated target of a partnership announced Wednesday between Swedish freight-autonomy company Einride AB (Nasdaq: ENRD) and Dutch truck giant DAF Trucks, a PACCAR subsidiary. The two companies said they will integrate Einride's autonomous driving system, Einride Driver, into DAF's production electric truck platform, with type-approval work beginning from day one of the program alongside the engineering work. The partnership is a structural departure from how most autonomous trucking deals have been constructed. Instead of a startup building its own purpose-designed vehicle, or a demonstration project that achieves impressive technical milestones before stalling at the regulatory gate, Einride and DAF said they engaged the Dutch national research institute TNO and began coordinating with European type-approval authorities as the program's first step — not an afterthought, per the Einride-DAF joint announcement. The EU's Level 4 autonomous vehicle type-approval framework has existed for four years. According to an analysis by TÜV SÜD autonomous driving project leader Dirk Fratzke, the framework is technically ready and independent testing organizations are prepared — but as of mid-2026, no manufacturer has successfully guided a vehicle through the process to certification, per TÜV SÜD's EU approval gap analysis. The bottleneck, Fratzke said, "sits inside the companies themselves." Why Europe's Level 4 Certification Gap Is the Deal's Central Bet At SAE Level 4, a vehicle can perform all driving tasks independently within a precisely defined Operational Design Domain — a specific geography, speed range, weather condition, and road type — without any need for a driver to monitor or intervene, per the SAE J3016 Level 4 definition. Level 4 is classified as

How HDT's 2026 <b>Truck</b> Fleet Innovators Are Rethinking Fleet Operations

Read more insights from Innovators and finalists: How Innovative Trucking Leaders Turn Change Into an Advantage How HDT’s 2026 Truck Fleet Innovators Are Rethinking Fleet Operations Meet five trucking leaders who are challenging assumptions, solving operational problems, and putting innovative ideas to work. - Five trucking leaders are exploring new strategies to defy traditional assumptions in fleet operations. - Their approaches include artificial intelligence, data-driven tools, electric trucks, advanced safety technology, and new ways of managing everyday fleet challenges. - What sets these leaders apart is a willingness to question assumptions, experiment, learn from setbacks, measure results, and share what they’ve learned with other fleets. *Summarized by AI Every year, new technologies promise to change trucking. Artificial intelligence. Electric trucks. Advanced safety systems. Automation. But technology alone isn’t the same as innovation. Vision and being willing to challenge conventional thinking matter — but so does turning ideas into results. This year's HDT Truck Fleet Innovators all approached innovation differently. Some embraced emerging technology, while others found better ways to solve everyday operational problems. None set out simply to adopt the latest technology. They identified a problem or recognized an opportunity, then found a better way to address it. Some turned to artificial intelligence and data-driven solutions. Others embraced electric trucks, advanced safety technology, or new management approaches. What they have in common is a willingness to question assumptions, experiment, measure results, learn from setbacks, and share those lessons with other fleets. The goal of HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators awards isn't simply to recognize people with bold ideas. It's to recognize leaders whose ideas are already making a difference — and whose experiences can help other fleets navigate through these fast-changing times. HDT’s 2026 Truck Fleet Innovators: They will receive their awards and participate in a panel discussion during Heavy Duty

Mistral Aims to Build 1GB of Compute Capacity by 2030

Sponsored by Google Cloud Choosing Your First Generative AI Use Cases To get started with generative AI, first focus on areas that can improve human experiences with information. The Paris-based vendor continues to build European AI infrastructure. France’s Mistral has revealed plans to build 1 gigawatt of compute capacity in Europe by 2030, as part of a major expansion of its infrastructure business aimed at boosting European AI sovereignty. The AI lab said the overriding aim of its new roadmap is to advance AI sovereignty, stating in an Aug. 11 blog post: “We believe every enterprise and country must be in control of the model it uses, choose where the intelligence runs, control the compute capacity to scale it and retain its compounding value.” And to help deliver this, the vendor detailed new concrete steps it plans to take. Mistral said it will strengthen regional control of inference, with Mistral Regional Endpoints, which are already available. This format lets customers choose whether their inference runs in Europe or the U.S., allowing them to align the location with their data residency, regulatory and latency requirements. As part of this, a new Priority Tier -- now in public preview -- offers committed service levels for mission-critical workloads. Location, Mistral said, is “only one part of sovereignty,” with customers requiring control of what AI technology runs on their infrastructure. To address this point, the company introduced another key change: allowing third-party open models to run on its infrastructure. The first to be accepted is Chinese vendor Z.ai’s GLM-5.2. Another measure is the formation of a coalition of enterprises and institutions committed to building out AI capacity in Europe together. “Aggregating long-term demand in this way will help determine what capacity is built, where it is located and whom it serves,” Mistral said in

Cranswick deploys Rockwell delta robots at 240 picks per min

Cranswick automates 240-picks-per-minute sausage line with Rockwell Automation delta robots, freeing workers for skilled roles Cranswick, one of Britain's largest premium food manufacturers, has commissioned a fully automated robotic pick-and-place system powered by Rockwell Automation's Allen-Bradley hardware and autonox delta robots to handle end-of-line sausage packaging at 240 cycles per minute. The deployment, delivered by CWM Automation, removes a manual bottleneck on a high-volume seasonal line and reassigns workers to more skilled positions. The project lands as UK food manufacturers face mounting pressure to find automation ROI amid ongoing labor constraints and rising production targets. This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Industrial IoT teams put it to work with AI Visibility (GEO). Key facts, context, and what it means, in one minute. Key takeaways Cranswick's new autonox delta robot system executes 240 pick-and-place cycles per minute on its pigs-in-blankets packaging line, a throughput rate that manual labor cannot match at scale. Allen-Bradley Kinetix VP servo motors and a GuardLogix 5380 safety controller handle precision detection and orientation of each sausage before placement, per Rockwell Automation's announcement. Workers displaced from the manual packaging stage are being redeployed to more skilled roles on other production lines, a model other food manufacturers can replicate to address labor productivity gaps. Get featured Want to get featured in MarketScale Industrial IoT? Create a free MarketScale workspace and get your company's expertise featured across our Industrial IoT coverage. No credit card, no demo required. Cranswick, one of Britain's leading premium food manufacturers, has commissioned a fully robotic end-of-line packaging system capable of picking and placing 240 sausages per minute, replacing a manual process that had been a persistent bottleneck on its high-volume Christmas production line. The deployment, announced by Rockwell Automation via PR Newswire in June 2026, is built around autonox delta robots running

India: TVS Vehicle Mobility Solutions to deploy 57 electric heavy-duty <b>trucks</b>

India: TVS Vehicle Mobility Solutions to deploy 57 electric heavy-duty trucks TVS VMS has partnered with Indian electric commercial vehicle manufacturer Montra Electric for the first phase of its electrification plans. It plans to use Montra Electric’s Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT and has taken delivery of the first vehicles at Montra Electric’s manufacturing facility in Manesar, Haryana. The route in Chhattisgarh on which TVS VMS plans to operate the 57 Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT trucks spans 190 kilometres. Montra Electric designed the model for heavy-duty freight operations, and the route includes three dedicated charging stations for added operational flexibility. The Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 TT has a gross combination weight (GCW) of 55 tonnes and features a 280 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor, a six-speed automated manual transmission and a 282 kWh LFP battery. It supports dual-gun charging at up to 240 kW and takes about 60 minutes to charge from 20 per cent to 100 per cent SoC. Montra Electric specifies a gradeability of 18 per cent and a range of up to 198 kilometres under standard test conditions. Montra Electric offers the Rhino 5538 EV in fixed-battery and battery-swapping versions, with the latter allowing a battery exchange in less than six minutes. The announcement does not specify whether the 57 trucks will use the fixed-battery or battery-swapping version. According to Montra Electric, the partners plan to deploy more than 300 electric trucks by March 2027. Navneet Sethi, CEO of Montra Electric’s eM&HCV Division, said: “This is a company with over seven decades of running conventional trucking now choosing to enter electric trucking for the first time, and choosing us to do it is validation that our platform can handle the demands of commercial-scale freight. For Montra Electric, this is a marker of how electric heavy trucking