Lidl deploys driverless truck for store deliveries in Germany
Lidl starts operating a cab-less autonomous electric truck by Einride at SAE Level 4 for regular deliveries between Edermünde and a store in Germany.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Lidl starts using a cab-less autonomous electric truck in Germany
- The vehicle is supplied by Einride under an SAE Level 4 KBA permit
- The truck runs replenishment routes between Edermünde and a nearby store
- It aims to move over 3,000 dry-goods pallets during the four-month project
Supermarket chain Lidl has begun utilizing a cab-less autonomous electric truck for regular store deliveries in Germany, assigning the vehicle to a daily replenishment route connecting its Edermünde distribution center and a nearby retail store.
Supplied by Swedish freight technology company Einride, the vehicle operates at SAE Level 4 automation under a formal permit issued by Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority, also known as the KBA.
The truck operates completely without a driver or safety operator on board. Both Lidl and Einride noted that this KBA permit represents the first of its kind in Germany for a cab-less Level 4 truck integrated into daily logistics operations.
"With this innovative project, we are testing a technological milestone step by step and safely in real-world operations"
Thomas Dangelmayer, Head of Operational Logistics at Lidl Germany
The vehicle features space for 15 Euro pallets and can complete up to three trips per day. Lidl stated that it will handle all dry-goods deliveries along the designated route throughout the four-month project, moving more than 3,000 pallets over that timeframe.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Deploying an SAE Level 4 autonomous truck on public roads marks a major milestone for European retail and logistics, navigating stringent regulatory frameworks. Germany's Autonomous Driving Act, enacted in July 2021, established the legal foundation for such trials within defined operating areas. This technological push directly addresses mounting industry pressures, particularly the severe truck driver shortage affecting supply chain continuity across the region.
According to estimates from the International Road Transport Union in June 2026, approximately 502,000 truck-driver positions remained unfilled across Europe in 2025, accounting for 13% of total positions in surveyed markets, with 20% of the workforce expected to retire within five years.
The current operation links the Edermünde distribution center with a single store. Upon successful route validation, Lidl plans to expand the deployment using a multi-stop milkrun model at another location.
Source: AI News
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