Scania’s autonomous trucks are set to hit the market, with order books now open and the first deliveries expected in Australia in 2026.
The autonomous range is designed for the mining sector, with a 40-tonne autonomous heavy tipper for mining being the first cab off the ranks, and a 50-tonne model to follow soon after.
According to the manufacturer, these autonomous mining trucks are designed to deliver to safer, more efficient and more sustainable mining operations.
As a first step, Scania will start sales of its autonomous mining solutions in Australia, with first deliveries and start of operation scheduled from 2026. The next market in line will most likely be Latin America, a region where Scania has a significant market presence in the mining segment.
“The transition from research and development to the launch of a commercial product is a major milestone for us and for autonomous heavy transport in general,” said Peter Hafmar, vice president and head of autonomous solutions at Scania.
“This is the most advanced product Scania has put on the market so far.”
Mines have so far been seen as one of the most promising environments for autonomous vehicles, as they can contribute to safer working conditions and more efficient operations.
A case in point is Mineral Resources (MinRes), which is currently building up a fleet of 150 converted Kenworth C509s featuring autonomous technology, which will be used to haul up to 330 tonnes of iron ore in the Pilbara.
The autonomous trucks Scania will first put to market will be smaller, civil-class trucks that it says have potential advantages over the industry’s traditional heavy haulage trucks, in terms of emissions and productivity.
“Another benefit with our solution is that it allows mining companies to more quickly take the next step towards zero-emission operations. It’s easier to electrify operations with Scania’s autonomous trucks compared with traditional heavy haulage trucks,” added Hafmar.
Scania’s autonomous trucks are the result of 10 years of development.
The new autonomous tipper truck has been developed in close cooperation between Scania’s R&D department and customers in the mining industry, with extensive testing in the real-life conditions.
“It’s probably the most ambitious research and development project we have done so far together with a customer, and I am very pleased about the result,” explained Hafmar.
“Thanks to all the rigorous checks and numerous on-site tests we have been able to develop an optimal autonomous transport solution for mines.”