SAN DIEGO—Goodyear has a established a strategic relationship with TuSimple Inc., a San Diego-based global autonomous trucking technology company, to provide tires and tire-management solutions to TuSimple's Autonomous Freight Network.
As part of this, Goodyear will provide products and repair services for the safe operation of autonomous trucks. In addition, Goodyear and TuSimple will conduct wear studies designed to understand how autonomous trucks and tires can help predict maintenance better, understand tire longevity and reduce the carbon impact of fleets.
Goodyear said data from the study will provide insights into the difference between an autonomous and human driver, with respect to the tires.
Erin Spring, Goodyear's director of new ventures, said the tire maker's expertise in products, fleet support and advanced innovations enables it to apply "knowledge to help deliver performance and safety with autonomous vehicles."
TuSimple launched the AFN in July, calling itself a reliable low-cost freight transportation throughout in the contiguous U.S., through the use of Level 4 autonomous trucks.
"Autonomous trucks offer game-changing advantages for both shippers and fleets," said Robert Brown, senior director external affairs for TuSimple. "One of the most powerful advantages is the increased capacity, which comes as a result of the fact autonomous trucks can operate nearly continuously, and with this dramatic increase in truck utilizations comes the need to better understand predictive maintenance requirements."
TuSimple was founded in 2015 with a mission to improve the safety and efficiency of the trucking industry.
