Ikea is currently testing delivery with self-driving trucks in Texas. As part of this experiment, the famous Swedish kit furniture firm has partnered with Kodiak Robotics, a company specializing in autonomous driving technologies.
Year after year, Ikea has made sure to multiply the strings to its bow. Gone are the days when the Swedish firm only sold kit furniture. Since then, the brand has launched gaming furniture in partnership with ASUS, has teamed up with Renault to create the first electric car kit and has launched the marketing of solar panels in France.
Now, Ikea is visibly determined to revolutionize its delivery processes. Indeed, our colleagues from the American channel CNBC tell us thatIkea is currently testing self-driving trucks to deliver to one of its stores in Texas.
As part of this experiment, the Nordic company has partnered with Kodiak Robotics, a company specializing in autonomous driving technologies for long-haul road transport. Since the beginning of August 2022, a heavy goods vehicle equipped with an autonomous driving function delivers furniture daily from a distribution center in Houston to a store in Dallas.
It’s a spanning day at Kodiak! We’re working with @IKEA Supply Chain Operations to transport products seven days in Texas. It’s great to have partners as committed to improving road safety, reducing emissions and improving the quality of life of drivers as we are. pic.twitter.com/7oCDeuL8TD
—Kodiak Robotics (@KodiakRobotics) October 18, 2022
Also read: Amazon imagines a truck capable of deploying dozens of delivery drones
Autonomous trucks to make life easier for drivers
This represents a journey of 300 miles, or approximately 483 kilometers. Of course, the truck is not left unattended since a driver is present to take over control of the semi-trailer if necessary. But on the highwaythe truck steers independently. Note also that this truck is not electric, unlike the Tesla Semi.
According to our colleagues at Forbes, the two companies agreed on a three-month pilot program. If the experiment proves conclusive, they could sign a multi-year agreement to equip several American Ikea distribution centers with autonomous trucks.
According to Don Burnette, CEO of Kodiak Robotics, the introduction of self-driving trucks is not intended to cut jobs, but rather to make life easier for drivers. “Adopting self-driving truck technology can improve drivers’ quality of life by focusing on city driving tasks that most of them prefer to do. Together with IKEA, we can increase safety, improve working conditions for drivers and create a more sustainable freight transport system,” he explains.