Germany puts a driverless truck onto public roads
Einride and Lidl have deployed a cabless Level 4 autonomous truck for regular commercial use on a public road in Germany.
One of the most significant autonomous freight developments in Europe happened this week.
Einride and Lidl have deployed a cabless autonomous truck for regular commercial use on a public road in Germany.
The Level 4 vehicle transports goods between a Lidl distribution centre and a retail location.
Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority has granted approval for the operation.
This matters because autonomous trucking has spent years demonstrating prototypes.
Commercial deployment is different.
A truck carrying goods for a major retailer on a public road represents the technology moving closer to everyday logistics.
Sources
This story first appeared in The Fleet Brief Issue 003, published 16 September 2026.