Volvo Trucks’ autonomous vehicle Vera is ready to hit the road

In collaboration with ferry and logistics company DFDS, Vera will begin transporting goods between a logistics center and a port terminal in Gothenburg, Sweden. The vehicle will haul shipping containers along a predefined route, including a stretch of public roads.

Ultimately, Volvo hopes to have several autonomous vehicles travelling back and forth at once. They’ll be monitored by a control tower and max out at 40 km/h. While Vera is suited for short distances, it will be able to transport large volumes, and Volvo hopes it will offer greater efficiency, flexibility and sustainability. “Autonomous transports with low noise levels and zero exhaust emissions have an important role to play in the future of logistics, and will benefit both business and society,” said Mikael Karlsson, Volvo Trucks’ vice president of autonomous solutions.