Isuzu Motors has announced that it will invest $30 million (€27.6 million / £23.7 million) in Gatik to form a new partnership with the autonomous trucking company and realize new mobility services based on L4 autonomy.
The agreement between the companies is focused on the development of middle mile autonomous driving and will include the design and development of a new chassis (redundant chassis) that ensures safety when equipped with an autonomous driving system. In April 2024, as part of its mid-term business plan, Isuzu Transformation – Growth to 2030 (IX), the OEM committed to three new business pillars, one of which is autonomous driving solutions. Committing to this pillar, its partnership with Gatik will aim to launch a L4 autonomous commercial vehicle business in 2027.
Through this partnership, Isuzu will enter the middle mile autonomous driving business in the LCF4 segment, where it is already operating in the North America region. Gatik’s technology will allow Isuzu to actively address pressing issues facing the industry, such as driver shortages and delivery needs across North America. Moreover, the two companies will jointly design and develop a new chassis with enhanced safety performance that is also compatible with the installation of an autonomous driving system. Together, Isuzu and Gatik aim to begin mass producing this system in 2027.
Gatik itself provides autonomous middle mile logistics services in North America using Class 3-7 autonomous driving trucks. The company is particularly focused on middle mile B2B3 logistics for large companies, and previously completed fully driverless commercial middle mile deliveries. Gatik’s trucks are currently commercially deployed in Texas and Arkansas in the U.S, and Ontario, Canada.
