A driverless, 100% autonomous electric truck is already in use at Lidl: the revolution in freight transportation is beginning to take shape

17/09/2026 11:30

Updated to

17/09/2026 11:30

Add Hybrids and Electric Vehicles as Google’s preferred source for free.

Stay informed with the latest news updates.

Activate now

The automation of heavy transportation is entering a new phase in Europe. Until now, most projects involving driverless trucks have taken place in private facilities or highly controlled corridors, but Lidl has begun integrating one of these vehicles directly into its regular supply chain, including operation on roads open to traffic.

The project has been launched in Germany, where the company is working with the Swedish firm Einride and has received approval from the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA). The vehicle is completely electric, eliminates the need for a cab entirely, and operates using a SAE Level 4 autonomous driving system capable of handling driving without a person inside as long as it remains within the conditions and areas for which it is authorized.

Lidl is already using it to supply one of its stores

The first commercial operation takes place in Edermünde, near Kassel, between a Lidl distribution center and a nearby store. The truck has space for 15 europallets and can make up to three trips per day, with the company aiming to fully cover the supply of dry goods for that route during the initially planned four months for the project.

This means it’s not just about proving the vehicle can operate autonomously. Lidl has integrated it into a real logistics operation, with goods destined for a store and all other distribution processes functioning around the truck. The company estimates that during this initial phase it will be able to transport more than 3,000 pallets.

For now, the scope remains limited. The system operates within a predefined operational area, and the team aims to gather data on its integration before expanding the project. The next step involves adding more delivery points and developing routes with multiple stops, rather than sticking to just the route between the warehouse and a single store.

Europe already has regulations for these vehicles

The German experiment also comes at a time when the European Union already has a specific framework for fully autonomous vehicles. Regulation (EU) 2022/1426 introduced common procedures and technical requirements for certifying their autonomous driving systems, while an amendment approved in March 2026 updated these rules and expanded the European framework applicable to this technology.

European regulations specifically cover transportation applications within defined areas and pre-established logistics routes, making this type of operation one of the most immediate scenarios for expanding autonomous driving. Lidl and Schwarz Group will now examine the results of the German project alongside Einride before deciding on further implementations, with the possibility of deploying the system on other routes within their vast European logistics network.