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

The funding by the corporate that manufactures Volvo and Mack heavy-duty vehicles 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 present 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 vehicles on freight routes.

Totally autonomous trucking would add to freight capability, improve effectivity by means of higher utilization of costly Class 8 vehicles and enhance security, Volvo Group mentioned.

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

“Fixing these challenges and shaping the way forward for scaled autonomous trucking requires best-in-class buyers, know-how 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 mentioned.

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 situations wanted to hone its driving abilities.

Nonetheless, there’s a lot growth to be completed, the corporate mentioned.

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

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