Autonomous vehicle specialist Einride has operated the first fully-autonomous, heavy-duty vehicle on a public road in Belgium.
The demonstration at Port of Antwerp-Bruges follows similar operations for Einride across the US and two other European countries.
“Antwerp is more than a logistical hub: it is also a place where the mobility of tomorrow is tested and concretised," says Johan Klaps, chairman of the board of directors Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
"Autonomous and sustainable applications such as Einride’s proves that innovation is a driver for competitiveness and economic growth.”
Einride says it operates one of the biggest fleets of heavy-duty electric trucks in the world.
The company's CTO Henrik Green says: "Today in Antwerp, we showcase how public and private sectors can come together toward shared goals. European Ports, such as Antwerp-Bruges, are essential for decarbonising logistics and secure our supply chains."
"And with the European Commission acknowledging autonomous vehicles as key to EU competitiveness, we’re proud to showcase a clear example of how innovation and regulation can be balanced for safer, more efficient and sustainable logistics.”
Jean-Luc Crucke, Minister of Mobility, Climate and Ecological Transition: "This first Port of the Future – Autonomous Mobility Summit shows how innovation and sustainability go hand in hand."
"With the approval of the first autonomous Level 4 truck in Belgium, we are taking a step toward safer transport and demonstrating that our country can play a pioneering role in the mobility of tomorrow."
