Daimler Trucks acquires majority stake in robotics company to develop autonomous trucks



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Daimler Trucks announced Monday that it has acquired a majority stake in Torc Robotics, a Virginia company developing autonomous vehicle technology.

Daimler announced in January that it would hire 200 people, mainly at its North American headquarters in Portland, to develop autonomous semi-cars. The company hopes to have trucks with a high level of automation on the road by 2030.

Daimler did not say how much she paid for Torc, which employs about 100 people, or how much of the company she will own. Daimler has announced that it will combine Torc software with its own hardware technology.

"The Torc Level 4 system is proving to be effective for urban and highway driving in rain, snow, fog and sun," said Roger Nielsen, CEO of Daimler Trucks North America, in a statement.

The companies said Torc would remain a separate company operating under its own brand from its existing offices in Virginia. Torc has about 100 employees.

Although many cars and trucks already have a certain level of safety-oriented automation, such as the technology that keeps vehicles on their tracks on a highway, fully autonomous vehicles appear in many years.

Daimler was vague about his expectations of his autonomous vehicles, claiming that he only wanted a "level 4" automation by 2030. industry suggest that one could describe the truck drivers on the spot to take over in case of emergency or to navigate the cities.

– Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699

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