Watch: driverless electric lorry makes history with world’s first border crossing

A cabless electric lorry, dubbed a “space-age milk float”, has become the first driverless vehicle in the world to cross an international border and clear customs entirely on its own

A driverless electric lorry has become the first of its kind to cross a national border, after making a fully autonomous delivery from Sweden into Norway.

The crossing, carried out at Ørje on behalf of logistics group PostNord, marks a world-first for a cabless electric vehicle operating without a human driver.

Customs clearance was completed without a driver on board, using cooperative technology developed with Norwegian firm Q-Free. The system linked the vehicle to Norway’s Digitoll digital customs platform, allowing goods to be declared in advance and the crossing to proceed seamlessly.

The trial, part of the EU co-funded MODI project, is designed to test how autonomous transport can be safely rolled out across Europe.

Cross-border operations are considered one of the biggest hurdles for autonomous freight because of differing national regulations, inconsistent road signage and complex border procedures. Norway’s customs authority, Tolletaten, backed the project, calling it highly relevant to the future of international freight.

Henrik Green, Chief Technology Officer and General Manager for Einride Autonomous Technologies, said: “We are immensely proud to have completed the world’s first cabless, electric, fully autonomous cross-border delivery. We are dedicated to continuously extending our capabilities into new applications, showcasing how autonomous technology can enhance transportation safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The MODI project perfectly embodies this commitment, assisting in the realisation of EU value-based objectives by thoughtfully balancing safety with innovation.”

The lorry forms part of a broader package of autonomous technology developed by Einride, the Swedish company behind the project. Its system combines the Einride Driver autonomous software stack, a purpose-built cabless vehicle, and a remote “Control Tower” platform that allows fleets to be monitored and managed off-site.

The company says the technology is designed to improve safety, efficiency and sustainability in heavy road freight.

The MODI project brings together public and private partners from Sweden and Norway, including Statens Vegvesen, Sintef, Q-Free, Trafikverket and Østfold kommune.

PostNord, which handles almost 200 million parcels a year across the Nordic region, said the trial underlined how automation could change logistics. May-Kristin S. Willoch, the company’s Head of Environment, said: “Taking part in this historic milestone demonstrates how autonomous and digital technologies can reshape the future of transport, reduce emissions, and improve safety. This achievement is not just about crossing a border – it’s about entering a new era for the logistics industry.”

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