Lidl has launched a four-month project using a cab-less, autonomous electric truck for daily store deliveries in Germany, operating under a Level 4 permit.
Key facts
- •The truck operates at SAE Level 4, which allows for high driving automation within specified conditions.
- •Lidl's project is the first in Germany to receive a permit for a cab-less, Level 4 truck in daily logistics.
- •The International Road Transport Union reported that 502,000 truck-driver positions were unfilled across Europe in 2025.
- •German regulations for Level 4 autonomous vehicles are governed by the Autonomous Driving Act, which entered into force in July 2021.
- •Einride previously implemented a similar autonomous trucking operation with GE Appliances in Tennessee.
Lidl has begun using a cab-less, autonomous electric truck for regular store deliveries in Germany. The vehicle, supplied by Swedish firm Einride, operates on a daily route between a distribution centre in Edermünde and a nearby store. It is the first project of its kind in Germany to use a cab-less, Level 4 autonomous truck for daily logistics under a permit from the Federal Motor Transport Authority.
By the numbers
Operational Details and Safety
The truck operates without a driver or safety operator on board, utilizing a redundant sensor suite of lidar, radar, and cameras. Under German law, the vehicle must be capable of entering a minimal-risk state by stopping at a safe location if it reaches system limits. While no driver is physically present, the law allows for a technical supervisor to intervene or deactivate the vehicle if necessary, though constant monitoring is not required.
Project Scope and Future Plans
The four-month project is intended to help Lidl assess the integration of autonomous transport into its logistics operations. The truck has a capacity of 15 Euro pallets and can perform up to three trips daily, with the potential to move over 3,000 pallets during the project duration. Following the initial phase, Lidl plans to test a multi-stop 'milkrun' model at another location.
Timeline
- July 2021Germany's Autonomous Driving Act entered into force, establishing a legal framework for Level 4 vehicles.
- November 2023Einride began full-time daily autonomous operations with GE Appliances in Tennessee.
- June 2026The International Road Transport Union estimated the number of unfilled driver positions across Europe.
- September 15Lidl announced the start of its autonomous truck project in Germany.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Artificial Intelligence News.
