Otto is a new startup focusing on self-driving trucks that was launched by former engineers belonging to Alphabet Inc’s (GOOG,GOOGL) Google.
The startup has announced technology that will allow it to retrofit semi trucks made in 2013 or later to make them self-driving trucks. It’ll cost $30,000 to fit the trucks with the system, which handles staying in lanes, slowing down and speeding up.
Otto started its self-driving trucks business in January and is led by Lior Ron and Anthony Levandowski, who both worked on Google mapping projects. It is currently made up of 40 employees that come from Apple Inc. (AAPL), Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA) and other companies, reports Wired.
“The removal of truckers from freeways will have an effect on today’s towns similar to the effects the freeways themselves had on towns decades ago that had sprung up around bypassed stretches of early highways,” Scott Santens, an independent researcher, told The New York Times.
Self-driving trucks are new territory, but several companies are looking to make self-driving cars. This includes plans for self-driving minivans, taxis and luxury cars.
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