Daimler nixes platooning to focus on autonomous vehicle technology

摘要

Saying the technology required to make platooning work produces very limited reductions in operating costs, Daimler Trucks North America has decided to pass on platooning and focus instead on advancing its position in vehicle automation. "The technology we have to put into a truck does not qualify the savings our customers will see with automation," said Daimler Truck and Bus head Martin Daum. "We will continue with the projects where we have ongoing commitments, but we will not be starting another venture project on platooning." Speaking at a press event in Las Vegas preceding the CES electronics show, where DTNA announced significant advancements in Level 2 autonomous vehicle technology, Daum said the fuel economy gains are modest at best, considering the technical resources required to make it happen, and that Daimler s dollars would be better spent developing systems for Level 4 automation.