The key driver of this driverless revolution has become an acute shortage of personnel — according to a study by the Russian Academy of Sciences, almost 70% of Russian trucking companies face a shortage of drivers. This problem, compounded by the rising costs of traditional logistics, has forced businesses to look for alternative solutions. Autonomous electric trucks offer several advantages at once: they work around the clock without interruptions, eliminate the human factor from the safety equation and allow you to save up to 30% of the costs that previously went to the drivers' payroll.
While in the USA and Europe, most projects are at the stage of experimental transportation with the mandatory presence of an operator in the cockpit, Russian companies have already launched full-fledged commercial operation. The market leader is EvoCargo, which by the end of 2024 has implemented more than 150 fully autonomous trucks at the facilities of such giants as Wildberries, Gazpromneft-Supply, Russian Post and Sibur. For comparison, the American Aurora, one of the industry's flagships, announced the launch of only ten autonomous trucks in early 2025.
The success of Russian developers is explained by several factors. Firstly, the focus on closed territories — warehouses, logistics centers, industrial sites — has made it possible to circumvent the regulatory restrictions in force for public roads. Secondly, domestic companies like EvoCargo are developing vehicles from scratch, rather than adapting autopilot systems to existing models, which gives them a technological advantage.
Government support also played an important role. The introduction of experimental legal regimes (EPR) has created favorable conditions for testing and commercialization of technologies. And the expected entry into force on September 1, 2025 of the law on highly automated vehicles will open up new prospects for long-haul transportation.
The technological base is also impressive — Russian drones use not only computer vision, but also interact with digital counterparts of roads and elements of intelligent transport infrastructure. Companies actively patent their developments: EvoCargo alone has more than 85 patented technological solutions.
The market outlook looks extremely optimistic. By 2026, experiments are planned with vehicles of the fifth level of autonomy — completely without a person in the cockpit. By 2030, the government promises to equip at least one federal highway with elements of a "smart road". As early as 2025, the number of autonomous trucks on the M-11 highway is expected to grow to 93 units.
Thus, Russia demonstrates a unique example of how the combination of market necessity, regulatory flexibility and technological competence allows not only to catch up, but also to overtake world leaders in a strategically important industry of the future.
