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Autonomous Trucking: 10 Fascinating Key Facts About Gatik

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As the race toward fully autonomous driving intensifies, Gatik is one startup making significant strides in a niche that often flies under the radar: middle-mile autonomous trucking. While many autonomous vehicle companies focus on passenger transport or last-mile deliveries to consumers, Gatik has carved out its space in the logistics supply chain by perfecting the middle-mile segment—transporting goods between distribution centers and retail stores. 

This focus allows Gatik to sidestep some of the most challenging aspects of urban autonomous driving, and in doing so, it has quietly become a force in the commercial AV industry.

According to industry estimates, the autonomous trucking market is projected to exceed over $1 trillion by 2030, highlighting the vast potential for companies like Gatik to reshape the logistics landscape.

Gautam Narang, Gatik’s CEO, emphasizes this potential by stating, “Middle-mile autonomy is undoubtedly the first application in autonomous trucking to achieve scale in commercial applications.” 

According to a report by McKinsey & Company, automation in the middle-mile segment could reduce logistics costs by up to 45%, with self-driving trucks offering the most significant opportunity for savings in fleet efficiency, fuel consumption, and labor. This is where Gatik shines.

This article will enlighten you about 10 fascinating key facts about Gatik that you probably may not be aware of. From their rapid expansion in both the U.S. and Canada to their pioneering achievements in driverless operations, Gatik is setting new standards in autonomous trucking.

Key Facts About Gatik (Things to Know)

Here are ten fascinating key facts about Gatik and how they are revolutionizing the autonomous trucking industry:

1. Origin and Founding Story

Gatik was founded in 2017 by Gautam Narang, Arjun Narang, and Apeksha Kumavat, all veterans of the autonomous technology industry. The name Gatik has its root in ancient India. It’s derived from the Sanskrit and embodies a sense of advancement and development; the relentless pursuit of growth and improvement.

The company’s inception coincided with a pivotal moment in the U.S. regulatory landscape when Texas passed a law allowing autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads. This legislative change created an encouraging environment for Gatik to develop its innovative solutions for the logistics sector, particularly focusing on middle-mile deliveries.

From the outset, Gatik’s mission was clear: to revolutionize the logistics industry by leveraging Level 4 autonomous technology to transport goods between distribution centers and retail locations efficiently. The founders recognized a significant opportunity in the “middle mile,” which is often overlooked compared to long-haul trucking and last-mile delivery.

2. Two Years in Stealth Mode

Gatik operated in stealth mode for two years before publicly unveiling its autonomous vehicle technology in 2019. The company’s quiet approach during this period allowed them to develop and refine their business model and technology without attracting significant attention, which is common for startups looking to gain a competitive advantage in emerging industries

During these two years, Gatik focused on designing autonomous solutions specifically tailored to middle-mile logistics. Also, Gatik used this time to form key partnerships with major retailers. Their collaboration with Walmart, for example, was in development long before it was publicly announced. Additionally, stealth mode gave Gatik time to test its technology in real-world conditions without media or public scrutiny.

3. Specialization in Middle-Mile Logistics

Unlike many AV companies that focus on passenger transport or last-mile deliveries, Gatik exclusively targets the middle-mile segment using Class 3-7 autonomous trucks that operate on fixed route. This refers to the transportation of goods from distribution centers to retail stores or fulfillment locations. Gatik’s focus allows them to optimize for consistent routes, which are often less complex than urban environments, leading to a faster path to commercialization.

Gatik claims to be “the leader in autonomous middle mile delivery.” Their autonomous box trucks move goods on short-haul B2B routes to improve supply chain efficiency.

4. First to Operate Fully Autonomous Delivery on the Middle Mile

In August 2021, Gatik scored a notable achievement when it became the first company worldwide to operate fully driverless commercial deliveries on the middle mile. This groundbreaking milestone involved running daily routes without a safety driver in the vehicle, further solidifying Gatik’s position as an industry leader in autonomous logistics.

5. Strategic Partnerships

In 2019, Gatik made headlines in the United States by partnering with Walmart to launch automated grocery delivery trucks at Walmart’s Bentonville, Arkansas location. This collaboration marked a significant milestone as it demonstrated Gatik’s capability to execute commercial deliveries using autonomous vehicles.

By partnering with Gatik, Walmart benefits from reduced reliance on human drivers, which mitigates the challenges posed by the truck driver shortage—a problem that has plagued the U.S. logistics industry for years. Moreover, Gatik’s autonomous trucks allow Walmart to make more frequent deliveries with lower operating costs, improving inventory management and product availability at retail locations.

In 2020, Gatik further announced a landmark partnership with Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s largest grocery retailer. This collaboration marked Gatik’s expansion into the Canadian market, where they began operating autonomous box trucks on fixed routes between Loblaw’s distribution centers and its retail locations.

Gatik has also entered strategic partnerships with companies like Tyson Foods, Kroger, KBX Logistics, Georgia-Pacific, Pitney Bowes, etc.

6. Most Rigorous Third-Party Examination on a Self-Driving Vehicle

On October 8, 2024, Gatik announced that it is undergoing the most rigorous third-party examination of its self-driving technology to date. This is the most rigorous safety examination ever done on a self-driving system by a third party. The comprehensive safety assessment aims to ensure that Gatik’s autonomous trucks meet the highest standards as they operate without a human driver on board.

To conduct this extensive evaluation, Gatik has partnered with two respected organizations: Edge Case Research and TÜV SÜD. Edge Case Research specializes in autonomy risk management and will implement its DevSafeOps® process to support Gatik’s system development, testing, and safety engineering. TÜV SÜD, a globally recognized independent testing and certification organization, will assess Gatik’s approach to safely deploying its autonomous driving system and confirm compliance with the UL4600 standard for safety evaluation of autonomous products.

Gatik’s safety assessment covers over 700 identified safety portfolios, addressing critical aspects such as organizational safety culture, engineering quality, cybersecurity, vehicle safety, and overall conformity to established safety standards.

Gatik has promised to provide public updates on its progress.

7. Gatik and Loblaw Make History

Gatik, in partnership with Loblaw Companies Limited, successfully launched Canada’s first driverless commercial delivery service. This groundbreaking achievement saw Gatik’s self-driving box trucks operating without a safety driver behind the wheel, delivering online grocery orders for Loblaw’s PC Express service in Brampton, Ontario.

This deployment is particularly notable because it is the first time in Canada that an autonomous vehicle has been allowed to operate on public roads without a human safety driver.

8. Mass Producing SAE Level 4 Autonomous Trucks with Isuzu

In 2021, Gatik and Isuzu North America Corporation entered a formal partnership to co-develop and mass-produce autonomous medium-duty trucks. Isuzu, a global leader in commercial truck manufacturing, brings its expertise in producing reliable, durable, and scalable truck platforms, while Gatik contributes its cutting-edge autonomous driving technology. Together, they have mass-produced SAE Level 4 autonomous trucks for deployment in Gatik’s growing middle-mile delivery operations.

9. Flawless Safety Record

Gatik boasts a 100% safety record after completing over 600,000 deliveries. This achievement is a testament to the company’s dedication to ensuring the highest safety standards in autonomous middle-mile logistics. It not only underscores Gatik’s ability to deploy reliable and efficient autonomous vehicles (AVs), but also highlights the critical role that rigorous safety protocols and real-time data analysis play in their operations.

10. Funding and Valuation

Gatik has successfully raised a total of approximately $303.49 million in funding through various investment rounds, which have been crucial for its growth and technological advancements.

In its latest funding round in May 2024, Gatik secured $30 million as part of a later-stage venture capital effort. This investment is part of a series of strategic partnerships and capital raises that have allowed Gatik to enhance its autonomous delivery capabilities and expand its operational footprint across North America.

As of now, Gatik’s valuation is not publicly available since it remains a privately held company. However, its strategic partnerships with major players like Walmart, Kroger, and Tyson Foods indicate strong confidence in its technology and business model. The company has also formed alliances with automotive manufacturers such as Isuzu and Goodyear to develop specialized vehicles and enhance operational efficiency.

Conclusion

Gatik has proven itself to be a key player in the fast-evolving world of autonomous trucking. It’s undeniably leading the charge in middle-mile logistics.

A recent report from McKinsey suggests that autonomous trucks could cut logistics costs by as much as 45% by reducing labor and fuel expenses while improving delivery speed and reliability. Gatik is already proving this in real-world scenarios, helping retailers optimize their supply chains and reduce reliance on human drivers—especially during the ongoing driver shortage.

The company’s commitment to safety and operational efficiency has drawn the attention of major retailers like Walmart and Loblaw, demonstrating that autonomous trucking can be both commercially viable and beneficial for supply chains. 

Also, Gatik’s approach to automating fixed, repeatable routes makes their operations predictable and scalable, while avoiding many of the unpredictable challenges faced by other AV companies.

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