Former Apple and Uber Engineer Raised $51 Million to Rethink the Self-Driving Truck

A different truck design

Many companies add autonomous technology to trucks already on the road. Humble Robotics takes another approach: it is designing the truck itself for self-driving. The company’s new $51 million round was led by Obvious Ventures, with existing investors Eclipse and Energy Impact Partners also participating. Humble’s total funding now stands at $75 million, and it declined to share its valuation.

Cohen’s autonomous driving experience

Humble’s founder and CEO, Eyal Cohen, has worked on autonomous driving at several companies. His experience includes Apple’s discontinued self-driving car project, Uber’s autonomous driving effort, and trucking startup Waabi.

The company has also hired employees from Tesla, Waymo, and Cruise to develop its prototype into a business. Cohen said he hopes eventually to make a range of autonomous vehicles for different cargo and routes.

Potential benefits and safety risks

Cohen sees a possible role for autonomous trucks in an industry that has struggled to recruit and retain drivers. He argues they could take on undesirable shifts and repetitive routes, leaving human drivers available for other work.

Highways may have fewer pedestrians, cyclists, and unpredictable turns than city streets, but truck failures can have serious consequences. Fully loaded trucks need more time to stop than passenger cars, and a disabled truck on a highway can pose a hazard. Humble is designing its vehicles for challenging freight locations, including crowded industrial sites and loading docks.