Einride and Lidl (part of the Schwarz Group) announced on September 15, 2026, that they have deployed what they describe as the first cab-less SAE Level 4 autonomous truck in daily operations on a public road in Germany.
The cab-less truck, which has no driver or safety operator on board, is transporting goods between a Lidl warehouse and distribution center and a Lidl store. The companies said the vehicle is operating under a permit from Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), which they say is the first of its kind granted in the country.
According to Einride and Lidl, Germany has some of the world’s most stringent road safety regulations. The permit was granted after an extensive safety validation process conducted with the KBA to confirm the reliability of the technology under real-world conditions.
Roozbeh Charli, the CEO of Einride, said, “Einride is already running real autonomous deliveries, with real volumes on real schedules with customers in the US and Europe. Germany is one of Einride’s key markets and we’re excited to now bring this technology to public roads in Europe’s largest road transport market, and to prove its value together with Lidl and the broader ecosystem of Schwarz Group. Germany’s approval process is among the toughest in the world, and obtaining clearance there gives us a foundation to scale with confidence.”
Einride and Lidl said they plan to expand the route toward a multistop model, with further deployments across the Schwarz Group network currently under discussion. The companies described the initiative as part of a broader effort to address driver shortages and strengthen supply chain resilience.
Thomas Dangelmayer, head of operational logistics at Lidl in Germany, said, “Intelligence creates efficiency, and that is the backbone for permanently reliable product availability. We ensure that the products for our customers are always at the right place, at the right time, and in the right quality. With this innovative project, we are testing a technological milestone step by step and safely in real-world operations to examine how futureproof solutions can be optimally integrated into our site logistics.”
Serhan Yildirim, head of Schwarz Logistics Solutions at Schwarz Corporate Solutions, said, “For the companies of Schwarz Group, innovation is the core driver of operational excellence and sovereign supply chains. Futureproof logistics is not built by waiting but through proactive action. With this project, we are combining the scalability of our unique ecosystem with the pioneering spirit of Einride. In doing so, we are actively driving the transformation of the industry.”
The deployment was carried out in collaboration with Schwarz Corporate Solutions, Schwarz Digits and Lidl in Germany.
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