With the successful completion of the ATLAS-L4 research project, Germany has taken a significant step closer to realising the vision of driverless trucks on public roads. Led by MAN Truck & Bus, the twelve-member consortium has now presented the results of its work. The first fully autonomous truck on German motorways is a reality – and could become a model for tomorrow’s logistics.
Three years of development, one shared goal
ATLAS-L4 stands for “Automated Transport between Logistics Centres on Motorways at Level 4“. The aim was to develop an autonomous truck for hub-to-hub transport – that is, for fixed routes between logistics centres. The project was made possible by Germany’s Autonomous Driving Act, which has permitted the use of Level 4 systems on defined routes since 2021. It was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection with a total budget of approximately €59 million.
Around 150 engineers contributed to the ambitious project. Alongside MAN, partners included Knorr-Bremse, Bosch, Leoni, Fernride, TÜV SÜD, the Technical University of Munich, the Technical University of Braunschweig, Fraunhofer AISEC, Autobahn GmbH, and others from both industry and academia.
Technology under scrutiny – and on the motorway
Following the project launch in January 2022, the Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt) issued its first permit to test an autonomous commercial vehicle on public roads in spring 2024. The ATLAS-L4 truck’s first motorway test run was accompanied by Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing. Although a safety driver was present for all journeys, the trial nevertheless marked a significant milestone: it was the first regular use of a Level 4 truck in public traffic.
A central element of the project was the development of safety-critical systems such as redundant steering, braking, and on-board power supply – all essential for safe, driverless operation. A comprehensive validation concept was also developed, including cybersecurity measures, degradation strategies, and a technical control centre to monitor the vehicles.
Mission accomplished – the road ahead for series production
“The project has created a basic concept that can be industrialised. We have proven that autonomous trucks are feasible,” said Dr Frederik Zohm, Executive Board Member at MAN.
Project coordinator Sebastian Völl from MAN added:
“We’ve carried out important pioneering work by providing practical proof of the technical feasibility of autonomous trucks. These concepts are now feeding into further development towards series production.”
The potential benefits are wide-ranging: autonomous trucks could soon handle shuttle runs between logistics centres around the clock. This would reduce costs, enhance safety, and help address the acute shortage of drivers – currently estimated at around 100,000 in Germany.
Looking ahead: the next step towards Logistics 4.0
ATLAS-L4 has set a clear benchmark for autonomous driving in freight transport. While various regulatory, technical and economic hurdles remain before series production can begin, the groundwork has been laid. The project partners regard ATLAS-L4 as a key building block for the logistics of the future: safe, efficient, sustainable – and largely automated.
Each of the twelve project partners brought specific expertise to the table:
- MAN Truck & Bus: Overall system development and integration
- Knorr-Bremse: Redundant braking system with steer-by-brake functionality
- Leoni: Fault-tolerant electrical system
- Bosch: Fault-tolerant steering system for highly automated driving
- Fernride: Teleoperation solutions for remote monitoring and control
- Fraunhofer AISEC: Cybersecurity analysis and protection concepts
- TU Munich & TU Braunschweig: Research on driving dynamics, control systems, and technical supervision
- TÜV SÜD: Validation of test environments, simulations, and real-world driving performance
- Autobahn GmbH: Development of digital approval processes for operational areas
- WIVW GmbH: Ergonomic and functional teleoperator workstation design and testing
- BTC Embedded Systems: Scenario-based verification and testing methods
