Waabi partners with Volvo Autonomous Solutions

Self-driving truck startup Waabi is partnering with Volvo Autonomous Solutions to jointly develop and deploy autonomous trucks.

The partnership combines Waabi’s “groundbreaking innovation in generative AI” with Volvo’s leadership in automation and safety innovation.

Through this partnership, Volvo and Waabi are vertically integrating Waabi’s virtual driver system, the Waabi Driver, into the Volvo VNL Autonomous, Volvo’s autonomous truck with redundant systems for enabling safe autonomous operations. The Volvo VNL Autonomous will be produced at Volvo’s flagship New River Valley assembly plant and is based on Volvo’s autonomous technology platform, supporting diverse operational needs, use cases, and Volvo Group truck brands.

The two companies have laid the groundwork for the integration of the Waabi Driver into the Volvo VNL Autonomous and are preparing for testing in 2025.

Founded in 2021, Waabi, which is based in Canada, raised ~$280 million from Uber, Khosla Ventures, NVIDIA, Volvo Group Venture Capital, Porsche, and others.

“At Waabi, we believe that vertically integrating next-generation AI technology directly into an OEM’s vehicle production is the path forward to bring safe, robust autonomous vehicles to the road, at scale. Volvo’s leadership in safety, commitment to excellence in engineering, and investment in forward looking innovation makes them an ideal partner to realize the future of self-driving trucks everywhere.” – Raquel Urtasun, Founder and CEO of Waabi.

“Waabi is at the forefront of developing self-driving technologies leveraging the full power of AI. We are excited to integrate Waabi’s cutting-edge technology into our autonomous truck platform and work together to jointly develop a safe, efficient, and scalable autonomous transport solution.” – Shahrukh Kazmi, Chief Product Officer at Volvo Autonomous Solutions.