Bot Auto, a leading autonomous trucking company, announced its plans to launch driver-out commercial freight operations in 2025. This milestone will include a full-scale pilot program running continuously between Houston and San Antonio for at least four months. During this period, their autonomous trucks will haul real cargo for commercial shippers, marking a significant step in the company’s development phase.

Dr. Xiaodi Hou, Founder and CEO of Bot Auto, emphasized the importance of 2025 for the industry, citing synchronized advancements by various players like Kodiak, Aurora, and FERNRIDE. According to Dr. Hou, Bot Auto is ready to lead the way with hardware and software systems fully prepared for deployment. He remarked, “This new dawn will illuminate our industry in 2025.”

Since their hub-to-hub demonstration last October, Bot Auto has focused on enhancing safety and reliability through hardware and software redundancies. The company has proactively engaged with local authorities and emergency services in Texas to ensure safe operations on public roads. Additionally, they plan to open-source safety-related datasets to promote transparency.

The driver-out program addresses the critical market need for increased transportation capacity. Bot Auto has achieved significant progress with fewer resources than its competitors, showcasing a practical and efficient approach to commercialization. The company aims to demonstrate not just technical capabilities but operational and financial viability.

Dr. Hou reiterated that this pilot is about answering two vital questions: whether customers will adopt their product and if it can be profitable. By hauling real cargo on real roads, Bot Auto seeks to gain critical operational insights and optimize costs until they drop below human driver levels. This, according to Dr. Hou, is the turning point where autonomous trucking becomes a profitable business.

Bot Auto specializes in Level 4 (L4) autonomous trucking and offers Transportation as a Service (TaaS) through its AI-driven fleet. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company aims to address the driver shortage and expand transportation capacity while integrating seamlessly with the freight industry.