Visiongain has released a new automotive report Top 20 Autonomous Truck Companies 2018: Analysis of Research & Development (R&D) Spending Share, Strategy & Commercialisation Prospects for Automotive OEMs & Disruptive Technology Companies Developing Driverless, Self-Driving Trucks & Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for Applications in Haulage, Logistics, Delivery & Distribution.

Research and development in autonomous vehicle technologies has taken place for more than two decades, with interest and investment proliferating in recent years sparked by breakthroughs in sensing, communications, and computing technologies. The automotive industry is investing heavily in autonomous vehicle technology. Already some truck manufacturers have presented their early versions of autonomous vehicles. Even though the technology is costly and seen in the premium vehicles segment, manufacturers are seeking ways to lower the costs in the future, providing accessibility to their vehicles for more customers. Already, the autonomous vehicle poses significant opportunities and benefits affecting mobility, society, and economy, as a wide range of industries will be involved. However, the potential impact in terms of penetration, timing and uptake remain uncertain.

The Visiongain report analyst commented "The growth of the autonomous truck sector is largely dependent on the potential benefits and associated costs. Truck manufacturers have different views on how the autonomous truck would function. Some are relying on the sensors and cameras of the vehicle, as it provides real time data for the truck to position itself in the traffic. Other manufacturers use high resolution maps for navigation. And some manufacturers are seeing the autonomous trucks connecting to each other on the road, forming trains of trucks following each other. However, if these technologies could be combined, the level of autonomous vehicle advancement would significantly increase. Nevertheless, the cost of the technology still remains relatively high and while the level of penetration is low, truck makers are developing ways of lowering the final price of the vehicle.

Autonomous trucks pose significant benefits to society, as the trucks will minimise the risks of accidents due to human error. This will not only save lives every year, but will also save money associated with truck accidents. Autonomous vehicles will also shape the insurance industry, saving millions of dollars."

Leading companies featured in the report who are developing autonomous trucks include Tesla Motors Inc., BMW Group, Volvo AB, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Volkswagen Group, Daimler AG, Einride, Toyota Motor Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, Scania Group, Aptiv Plc, Alphabet Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH, Paccar AG, Continental AG, Baidu Inc., Mobileye N.V., and Nikola Motor Company amongst others.

Notes for Editors
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