The funding division of Volvo Group has made an undisclosed funding in Canadian autonomous driving expertise firm Waabi Innovation.

The funding by the corporate that manufactures Volvo and Mack heavy-duty vans represents its view that the commercialization of autonomous driving will are available freight motion earlier than passenger automobiles.

“Volvo Group can add appreciable strategic worth to the event of their enterprise. We’re at the moment exploring methods to cooperate,” says Martin Witt, Volvo Group Enterprise Capital president.

Volvo Vans North America, the U.S. division of the Swedish firm, already has a partnership with Aurora Innovation and plans to check autonomous vans on freight routes.

Totally autonomous trucking would add to freight capability, improve effectivity by way of higher utilization of high-priced Class 8 vans and enhance security, Volvo Group stated.

In a weblog submit, Waabi stated the trucking trade is challenged by a persistent driver scarcity, elevated freight demand and lengthy transit instances.

“Fixing these challenges and shaping the way forward for scaled autonomous trucking requires best-in-class buyers, expertise suppliers, and companions working collectively to construct deeper, extra clear relationships with fleet and shipper prospects to in the end present the product that meets their wants,” the Toronto firm stated.

In November, Waabi unveiled the Waabi Driver, its self-driving system. And final March, it launched its Waabi World simulator, which exams the Waabi Driver’s reactions to the myriad eventualities wanted to hone its driving expertise.

Nonetheless, there’s a lot growth to be carried out, the corporate stated.

“Autonomy will at some point rework trucking and logistics, however the self-driving trade has not solved this problem but,” stated Raquel Urtasun, Waabi’s founder and CEO.

Volvo stated its funding didn’t symbolize a cloth monetary occasion. It joins Khosla Ventures, Uber, Radical Ventures, 8VC, Omers Ventures and BDC Capital as Waabi buyers.