Gatik AI, a USA-based company specializing in self-driving technologies for commercial vehicles and autonomous logistics services, has received an investment from Japanese logistics business Nippon Express Holdings (NX Group).
The investment was made through the NX Global Innovation Fund on August 20 and will “further strengthen Gatik’s position in the North American logistics landscape, accelerating the deployment of its autonomous technology across the region”, Gatik said.
Gatik specializes in short- and medium-haul business-to-business (B2B) logistics, particularly middle-mile deliveries, which involve transporting goods between warehouses and retail locations. The company has established partnerships with major US retailers, including Walmart and Kroger, and serves various other shippers in the food and beverage industry.
NX Group says the investment in Gatik aligns with the growing interest in autonomous driving technology as a potential solution to several social challenges, including an aging driver population, labor shortages, rising labor costs, traffic accidents caused by human error and increased mobility needs in aging societies. Japan’s government has set a goal of year-round AV operation on public roads across all prefectures by fiscal year 2025.
As a provider of middle-mile logistics services for various industries, NX Group says it sees this investment as an opportunity to enhance its understanding of the autonomous trucking business. By partnering with Gatik, NX Group seeks to explore opportunities for collaboration in the USA and other global markets.