• FedEx to deploy autonomous trucks on the highway, not in city
• It started testing level 4 autonomous delivery trucks in China last October
FedEx Corp’s (NYSE: FDX) retiring chief executive, Fred Smith on Tuesday, said the parcel delivery company will take some big steps in its autonomous vehicle efforts this summer.
“You’ll see in late June an enormous effort towards autonomous trucks that move over the highway. Not in the city, where we think our drivers are better for the pickup and delivery of the long-distance vehicles,” Smith said in an interview with CNBC.
“We are a long way down the road to doing that. But we’re not going to get rid of our drivers. They’ll do the pick up and delivery and the dredge, if you will, and over time, I’m very confident autonomous trucks are on the way,” he added.
Last October, FedEx said it collaborated with a Chinese self-driving logistics company, Neolix, and has started testing autonomous delivery trucks in China to “embrace sustainable and intelligent logistics.”
It deployed several unmanned electric delivery vehicles with level 4 autonomous technology, which can self-drive with the help of the internet and intelligent cargo box tech, allowing for AI intelligent dispatching, comprehensive monitoring, and cloud-based management.
FedEx has previously launched initiatives toward autonomous vehicle usage, collaborating with companies including Nuro, DEKA Development Research, Aurora, and Paccar.
The company on Monday announced that Raj Subramaniam, its current chief operating officer, will be its next CEO from June 1, succeeding Smith.
The 77-year-old founder and current CEO, Smith, will become executive chairperson of the company.
FedEx shares rose 3.7% on Tuesday following the news.