{"id":17255287,"date":"2026-02-09T16:54:38","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T15:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/felss.com\/?post_type=blog&p=17255287"},"modified":"2026-02-09T17:00:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T16:00:45","slug":"autonomous-supply-chains-when-ai-takes-over-the-last-mile","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/felss.com\/en\/blog\/autonomous-supply-chains-when-ai-takes-over-the-last-mile\/","title":{"rendered":"Autonomous supply chains: When AI takes over the last mile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The logistics industry is on the threshold of a new era: autonomous trucks and logistics drones are already a reality in pilot projects and are paving the way for a fully automated supply chain. While robotaxis are still waiting for their widespread adoption, initial road tests and drone flights prove that AI-driven solutions promise significant efficiency\u2011, safety\u2011\u00a0and sustainability gains along the entire transport chain. This article sheds light on ongoing projects, market forecasts and the opportunities and challenges that companies and politicians will face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Companies that do not invest in autonomous trucks and logistics drones by 2026 at the latest will lose out in the “war for efficiency” of the next decade. Autonomous logistics is no longer a nice \u2011to\u2011have, but a strategic imperative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Status quo: pilot projects and big players<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tesla Semi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elon Musk announced at AI Day 2024 that the series production of the “Tesla Semi” would autonomously close the gap between North\u2011 and South America. So far, four prototypes have rolled on Californian highways, two of them under real logistics conditions of a large US\u2011freight forwarder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW & Scania<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In mid-2025, Volkswagen and Scania tested three Level\u20114\u2011trucks in Sweden that were on the road alone at night and in fog in long-distance transport. “We are seeing up to 20% fewer delays and 15% less energy consumption,” says Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management VW\/Commercial Vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audi, BMW and Polestar<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premium\u2011OEMs are also investing: Audi is linking its pilot program in Ingolstadt with 5G\u2011corridors, BMW is testing Level\u20113\u2011solutions in the Munich area, Polestar is planning a fleet of drones\u2011for transporting spare parts between its plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volvo and BYD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volvo Trucks has partnered with Nvidia to develop AI\u2011controllers for autonomous trucks. BYD, in turn, supplies e-truck\u2011\u2011chassis for pilot projects in China, where over 100 drone flights for\u2011e-commerce\u2011deliveries take off every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alphabet \/ Waymo and Google<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waymo Freight has been demonstrating autonomous\u2011hub-to-hub\u2011driving in Arizona since 2024. Google is investing USD 1 billion in software\u2011stacks based on Bosch\u2011sensor technology and ZF\u2011control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deutsche Bahn, Bosch & ZF<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the EU\u2011project MODI, automated DB trucks are rolling\u2011on motorways around Hamburg. Bosch and ZF will supply sensor\u2011clusters and interchangeable modules. However, Bosch\u2011CEO Stefan Hartung warns: “Without a uniform legal situation, a lot of things will remain cold coffee.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pilot projects at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Number<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Figure 1: Number of pilot projects by leading players in the field of autonomous logistics.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This overview shows how widely\u2011testing is now being carried out in industry and start-ups \u2013 an unmistakable signal that the technology could be standard tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autonomous trucks: status quo and pilot projects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

DSV & dm-drogerie markt \/ IVECO \/ Plus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May 2025, DSV, together with dm\u2011drogerie markt, IVECO and Software\u2011Partner Plus, successfully completed a road test of a semi-autonomous\u2011driver assistance solution in Krefeld. This test is the first step towards fully autonomous technology in German freight transport DSV<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MODI project Hamburg<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EU-funded MODI\u2011project demonstrated for the first time the integration of automated trucks into flowing motorway traffic and their ability to detect vulnerable road users in Hamburg’s urban traffic<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ATLAS\u2011L4 & T\u00dcV S\u00fcd<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ATLAS\u2011L4 research project drew a successful balance in July 2025: Level\u20114\u2011trucks operated in\u2011hub-to-hub\u2011\u2011traffic and provided valuable insights for future series applications. Around 150 engineers laid the foundation for Logistics 4.0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Logistics drones: supply chains in the air<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Morpheus\u2011load drones NRW<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since May 2025, the start-up Morpheus has been supplying\u2011hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia\u2011with blood reserves and laboratory samples by drone – over 100 flights a day are planned Logistics Today<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continental Drones & Wingcopter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continental Drones, in partnership with Wingcopter, has received millions of dollars in investments to build medical supply chains in remote regions. Pilot projects in Africa and Europe are already underway Logistics Today<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Urban delivery robots and scheduled flights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In urban centres, logistics service providers are testing drones\u2011Scheduled flights: Initial approvals from the German Federal Aviation Authority enable the regular transport of light shipments weighing up to 6.5 kg at up to 65 km\/h<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Market potential & speed of growth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Autonomous Last Mile Delivery Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The European autonomous delivery market generated revenue of USD 580.7 million in 2024 and is growing at a CAGR of 25.2% through 2030, according to Grand View Research<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global Autonomous Vehicles in Logistics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Globally, the market volume of autonomous vehicles in logistics was around USD 26.5 billion in 2024 with a projected CAGR of 55.6% through 2032, according to Future Data Stats<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autonomous Truck Market<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The global market size of autonomous trucks was USD 356.9 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a rate of 16.2% p.a. from 2025 to 2034 Global Market Insights Inc.<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bar<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Figure 2 shows the dramatic increase in the market volume of autonomous trucks and logistics drones from 2024 to 2030. While autonomous trucks are growing from USD 356.9 billion (2024) to around USD 800 billion (2030), the drone sector is exploding\u2011from USD 580.7 billion to over USD 2,200 billion. The CAGR\u2011rates of 16.2% (trucks) and 25.2% (drones) show one thing clearly: those who do not follow suit will quickly be overtaken by the innovation tug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opportunities for supply chain optimization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n