Driverless Trucks Begin Operation on M-12 Highway, Cutting Travel Time More Than in Half

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Russian President Vladimir Putin virtually attended the opening ceremony of new transport infrastructure and the launch of unmanned freight trucks on the M-12 "Vostok" highway.

The head of state emphasized that the project will create a unified corridor for unmanned freight transportation connecting St. Petersburg and Kazan. In the future, similar technologies are planned to be extended to other federal highways across the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Saveliev stated that the development of unmanned transportation is part of the federal project "Unmanned Logistics Corridors." He noted that in 2023, the project started with only three trucks, but now there are already 95 highly automated vehicles of Level 3 autonomy operating on public roads. It is expected that by 2030, their number could increase to 4,000.

Representatives from regions and project participants highlighted a significant reduction in delivery time. In experimental mode, an unmanned truck completed the route in 24 hours instead of the usual 58 hours. They said this makes the technology economically beneficial and opens up prospects for its expansion.

During the ceremony, several unmanned trucks from Russian manufacturers, including KAMAZ and Yandex, were showcased. These vehicles are already ready for operation on the M-12 highway. Additional safety is ensured by remote monitoring systems and operators who can intervene if necessary.

The M-12 highway became the third road in Russia where unmanned freight transportation is being implemented. According to the Ministry of Transport, by 2028, the fleet of such vehicles could approach one thousand units.

Putin noted that several Russian companies are involved in developing this sector, creating a competitive environment and accelerating the adoption of technologies.