Pepsi Launches First Real-World Autonomous Truck Deliveries in U.S.

PepsiCo, a leading U.S. food and beverage company, is accelerating the commercialization of next-generation autonomous trucks by deploying driverless trucks for real-world logistics, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on June 8 (local time).

According to the report, 35 of Pepsi's fully autonomous trucks are currently operating on highways and public roads in Arizona, transporting products such as snacks and beverages from factories to warehouses and retail stores.

These Pepsi trucks are equipped with "Level 4" autonomous driving technology, which is currently under intensive development.

Previous Level 3 vehicles required a human to sit behind the wheel and be ready to intervene in unexpected situations, as the autonomous driving function was only applicable under specific conditions.

In contrast, Level 4 vehicles feature constant automatic control without the need for human monitoring, allowing the driver's seat to remain empty and effectively achieving "100% driverless" operation.

This is one step below Level 5, which represents full, unrestricted autonomous driving.

The WSJ reported that Pepsi is the first major U.S. consumer goods company to handle large-scale logistics operations using Level 4 trucks.

The WSJ noted that when its reporter took a test ride in a Pepsi truck, the autonomous driving system steered stably through curves and strictly adhered to speed limits throughout the entire journey.

(Photo: Captured from Pepsi YouTube, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.