The German auto giant that acquired Torc Robotics last month has created a new business unit focused on putting self-driving trucks on the road within a decade.
It’s all part of a $570 million investment by Daimler Trucks, with some of that work landing in Blacksburg, according to a Wednesday press release.
The news adds clarity to the role Blacksburg-based Torc will play within the corporate structure of its new parent company pending the Daimler acquisition approval by federal regulators.
Daimler is best known for brands like Freightliner, Mercedes-Benz and Smart. Beginning June 1, the company’s truck-focused arm will have a new unit called the Autonomous Technology Group.
The business unit will have employees scattered at various development sites around the world. Torc will be folded into this new group.
Torc will remain a separate company with its original management team and name, Daimler announced Wednesday. But now it will work closely with Daimler’s Automated Truck Research & Development Center in Portland and another facility in Germany.
Daimler executives have said they plan to grow the company’s presence in Blacksburg. Wednesday’s announcement underscores those intentions.
“With the new unit, we will maximize the effectiveness of our automated driving efforts and the impact of our investments in this key strategic technology,” Daimler board member Martin Daum said. “We will therefore be in the perfect position to put highly automated driving onto the roads, making transportation safer, saving lives and helping trucking companies boost their productivity.”
Story originally published by The Roanoke Times.