Global Autonomous Truck Market Segmented By Vehicle Type (Light-Duty Truck, Medium-Duty Truck and Heavy-Duty Truck), By Propulsion Type (ICE, Electric), By Component Type (Lidar, Radar, Camera, and Sensors), By Level of Autonomy (Semi-Autonomous, Fully Autonomous), By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 21.18 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.18%
Fastest Growing Segment	Medium-Duty Truck
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 32.11 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Autonomous Truck Market will grow from USD 21.18 Billion in 2025 to USD 32.11 Billion by 2031 at a 7.18% CAGR. Autonomous trucks are commercial vehicles equipped with advanced sensor systems and artificial intelligence that enable them to navigate and transport goods with reduced or zero human intervention. The primary drivers propelling this market include the urgent need to optimize supply chain logistics and the critical requirement to mitigate severe labor shortages that disrupt global freight capacity. These foundational motivators are distinct from passing trends as they address structural inefficiencies within the transportation sector. The magnitude of this workforce crisis is substantiated by recent industrial data which highlights the necessity for automation. According to the International Road Transport Union, in 2024, approximately 3.6 million truck driver positions remained unfilled across the thirty-six countries surveyed.

Despite the clear operational benefits, a significant challenge impeding the rapid expansion of the global autonomous truck market is the lack of a unified regulatory framework regarding liability and safety standards. Governments and insurance entities struggle to establish clear policies that determine accountability between software developers, original equipment manufacturers, and fleet operators in the event of an accident. This legislative uncertainty creates hesitation among potential adopters and delays the commercial scaling of autonomous fleets on public roadways. Until these legal and safety protocols are harmonized across different jurisdictions, the widespread deployment of driverless technology will likely face substantial administrative hurdles.

Key Market Drivers

The rapid growth of the freight transportation sector constitutes a primary driver for the Global Autonomous Truck Market, fueled by escalating goods volume that demands logistics capacities beyond human-centric limits. As global supply chains expand to accommodate surges in e-commerce, the imperative to move freight efficiently has necessitated the integration of automated systems capable of continuous operation. This intense demand is highlighted by recent industrial projections tracking the trajectory of cargo movement. According to the American Trucking Associations, January 2025, in the 'U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast to 2035', domestic truck tonnage is projected to rise from an estimated 11.27 billion tons in 2024 to 13.99 billion tons by 2035. Such data underscores the critical role of autonomous trucks in bridging the widening gap between available workforce hours and mounting freight throughput requirements.

Advancements in artificial intelligence and sensor technologies serve as the second critical driver, transitioning the market from experimental testing to viable commercial deployment. The evolution of Level 4 autonomous driving systems now enables heavy-duty vehicles to navigate complex public roadways with requisite safety redundancies, encouraging fleet operators to adopt the technology for long-haul routes. This operational maturity is substantiated by recent deployment figures from key industry players. According to Aurora Innovation, May 2025, in a corporate press release regarding its commercial launch, the company's driverless system successfully completed over 1,200 miles without a human operator between Dallas and Houston. Demonstrating further reliability in established logistics networks, according to Kodiak Robotics, January 2025, their autonomous fleet surpassed 100,000 miles on long-haul routes for major partners with 100% on-time performance.

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Key Market Challenges

The most critical impediment restricting the Global Autonomous Truck Market is the absence of a unified regulatory framework governing liability and safety standards. This legislative void creates substantial risk for original equipment manufacturers and software developers, who face undefined accountability in the event of technical failures or accidents. Without clear federal guidelines, insurance entities are unable to calculate risk premiums accurately, causing fleet operators to hesitate in deploying capital toward driverless technology.

This regulatory uncertainty forces the industry to contend with a disjointed operational landscape that severely limits commercial scalability. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in 2025, the lack of federal direction resulted in a patchwork environment where thirty-four states had enacted disparate autonomous vehicle statutes. This fragmentation compels companies to customize operations for each jurisdiction, making long-haul interstate logistics inefficient and legally precarious. Consequently, the technology remains trapped in isolated pilot programs rather than expanding into the seamless national freight networks required for market growth.

Key Market Trends

The convergence of autonomous driving systems with electric powertrains is reshaping the market by coupling labor efficiency with critical decarbonization objectives. Unlike traditional diesel long-haul models, this trend integrates zero-emission platforms with driverless technology to optimize sustainable logistics networks, particularly in short-haul loops where automated scheduling mitigates range limitations. The viability of this approach was validated when, according to Einride, December 2024, in the announcement 'Einride deploys first daily commercial operations of autonomous trucks in Europe', the company revealed that its autonomous electric operations with partner Apotea saved over 917,000 kilograms of CO2e. This metric highlights how autonomy accelerates electric fleet adoption by offsetting higher hardware costs through continuous operation.

Simultaneously, the accelerated deployment of Level 4 autonomy in geofenced mining and quarrying sectors marks a strategic pivot toward controlled environments with lower regulatory barriers. These industrial zones allow for the rapid scaling of unmanned haulage systems, avoiding the liability complexities of public roadways. This sectoral expansion is exemplified by recent integrations in the aggregates industry. According to Caterpillar Inc., November 2024, in the press release 'Caterpillar Paves the Way for Future Technology Advancements', the company successfully demonstrated the fully autonomous operation of its 100-ton-class Cat 777 off-highway truck at a quarry in Virginia. This achievement underscores the immediate commercial readiness of autonomous solutions in off-road applications, distinct from the gradual rollout seen in highway freight.

Segmental Insights

Based on market data from Stratview Research, the Medium-Duty Truck segment is projected to be the fastest-growing category within the Global Autonomous Truck Market. This accelerated expansion is primarily driven by the rapid growth of the e-commerce sector, which necessitates efficient middle-mile logistics to connect distribution hubs with retail stores. Unlike heavy-duty vehicles designed for long-haul transport, medium-duty autonomous trucks offer the essential versatility and maneuverability required for regional urban routes. Consequently, logistics providers are aggressively adopting these vehicles to optimize supply chain operations, reduce delivery times, and mitigate driver shortages in high-frequency freight networks.

Regional Insights

North America holds the leading position in the global autonomous truck market, driven primarily by the strong presence of key technology developers and truck manufacturers in the United States. The region benefits from a vast highway network that is well-suited for long-haul automated logistics. Additionally, supportive frameworks from regulatory entities such as the U.S. Department of Transportation enable the ongoing testing and piloting of self-driving systems. This favorable environment helps logistics companies address persistent driver shortages through automation, solidifying the region's dominance in the adoption of autonomous freight solutions.

Recent Developments

• In September 2025, International Motors announced the commencement of customer fleet trials for its second-generation autonomous trucks. These trials were conducted in partnership with PlusAI, utilizing International LT Series tractors equipped with the partner's "SuperDrive" autonomous software. The initiative involved piloting vehicles along the strategic Interstate 35 corridor between Laredo and Dallas to validate the technology in real-world freight conditions. The Chief Strategy Officer of International Motors emphasized that the program was designed to prove the commercial viability of their autonomous solutions, aiming to deliver reliable operations and improve bottom-line logistics efficiency for major fleet operators.
• In December 2024, Kodiak Robotics achieved a significant milestone by launching commercial driverless operations in the Permian Basin of West Texas. The company began autonomous deliveries of frac sand for Atlas Energy Solutions using trucks equipped with its proprietary self-driving system, notably operating without human safety drivers on board. This development represented the first commercially operational driverless trucking route established by the firm. The collaboration aimed to enhance operational efficiency and safety in the challenging environment of oilfield logistics, successfully demonstrating the practical viability and robustness of autonomous transport technology in demanding off-highway applications.
• In June 2024, Waabi secured $200 million in Series B funding to accelerate the deployment of its fully driverless trucks. The investment round was led by Uber and Khosla Ventures, with participation from strategic partners including Nvidia and the venture capital arm of the Volvo Group. The company announced plans to utilize these funds to launch driverless operations in Texas by 2025. The CEO of Waabi highlighted that their generative AI-centric approach enables a scalable and capital-efficient path to Level 4 autonomy. This financial injection underscored the growing investor confidence in artificial intelligence applications within the global autonomous trucking sector.
• In May 2024, Volvo Autonomous Solutions unveiled its first production-ready autonomous truck at an industry exposition in Las Vegas. The vehicle, known as the Volvo VNL Autonomous, was developed in collaboration with Aurora Innovation and features the partner's self-driving technology integrated directly into Volvo's commercial truck platform. The President of Volvo Autonomous Solutions stated that the truck was designed with redundant systems for safety and intended to increase freight capacity. This launch marked a significant step toward the standardized manufacturing of autonomous heavy-duty vehicles for the North American market, specifically aiming to address the critical challenge of driver shortages in the logistics industry.

Key Market Players

• AB Volvo
• Mercedes Benz Group
• Traton SE
• TuSimple
• Fabu Technology
• Tesla Inc.
• Paccar Inc
• BYD Co. Ltd.
• Einride
• Embark

By Vehicle Type	By Propulsion Type	By Component Type	By Level of Autonomy	By Region
Light-Duty Truck Medium-Duty Truck and Heavy-Duty Truck	ICE Electric	Lidar Radar Camera Sensors	Semi-Autonomous Fully Autonomous	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Autonomous Truck Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Autonomous Truck Market, By Vehicle Type:

• Light-Duty Truck
• Medium-Duty Truck and Heavy-Duty Truck

• Autonomous Truck Market, By Propulsion Type:

• ICE
• Electric

• Autonomous Truck Market, By Component Type:

• Lidar
• Radar
• Camera
• Sensors

• Autonomous Truck Market, By Level of Autonomy:

• Semi-Autonomous
• Fully Autonomous

• Autonomous Truck Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE