Torc Announces New Engineering Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Further Fuel Autonomous Vehicle Innovation

by Torc | Jun 24, 2025 | News, Featured

Sunny drone shot of the Torc Ann Arbor office location

Strategic Location Taps into Regional Automotive and Tech Talent, Builds on Recent Dallas Forth-Worth Expansion

Blacksburg, VA – June 24, 2025 – Torc, a pioneer in commercializing self-driving class 8 trucks, today announced the establishment of a new engineering center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As Torc continues its path toward commercialization in 2027, this strategic expansion will further accelerate the company’s productization efforts and tap into the region’s rich automotive and technology talent pool.

As part of its effort to open the Ann Arbor location, Torc worked closely with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to secure incentives to support the expansion into Michigan, as Torc plans significant hiring in this region to grow its team and technical talent capabilities.

Torc’s Ann Arbor site will help drive critical product milestones. A diverse range of engineering roles will be based in the office, including expertise in machine learning, software, hardware, and systems engineering, alongside positions in product engineering, safety, and other key functions.

“This strategic location is a natural fit for Torc as we continue to advance our autonomous technology,” said Jamie Swaim, Chief People Officer at Torc. “Ann Arbor’s proximity to the Detroit automotive industry and a wealth of high-tech talent, combined with the exceptional concentration of high-caliber universities and colleges, makes it an ideal environment for our growth and productization strategy. This new center will complement the strong engineering talent we already have across the nation.”

The new office, located in northeast Ann Arbor, will encompass approximately 32,000 square feet and will feature multiple collaboration spaces and hardware in the loop labs.

“We are pleased to support the continued growth and expansion of Torc, whose project is a testament to the strength of our state’s mobility industry and Michiganders’ superior skills,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund. “My congratulations and gratitude to Torc; we are honored to earn this investment. We look forward to celebrating your future success and that of the People, Places, and Projects who will benefit from your presence in the great state of Michigan.”

Torc’s decision to establish a presence in Ann Arbor underscores its commitment to fostering innovation and teamwork through strategic talent acquisition and collaboration within key technology and automotive ecosystems. For more information on Torc, please visit www.torc.ai.

About Torc
Torc, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, a global leader and pioneer in trucking. Founded in 2005 at the birth of the self-driving vehicle revolution, Torc has over 20 years of experience in pioneering safety-critical, self-driving applications. Torc offers a complete self-driving vehicle software and integration solution and is currently focusing on commercializing autonomous trucks for long-haul applications in the U.S. In addition to its Blacksburg headquarters and engineering offices in Austin, Texas, and Montreal, Canada, Torc has a fleet operations facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas, to support the company’s productization and commercialization efforts, as well as a presence in Ann Arbor, MI, to take advantage of the autonomous and automotive talent base in that region. Torc’s purpose is driving the future of freight with autonomous technology. As the world’s leading autonomous trucking solution, we empower exceptional employees, deliver a focused, hub-to-hub autonomous truck product, and provide our customers with the safest, most reliable, and cost-efficient solution to the market.

Large Torc sign inside the Ann Arbor, Michigan location

Aerial shot of the Torc Ann Arbor location

Torc Joins the Stanford Center for AI Safety to Conduct Joint Research on AI Safety for Level 4 Autonomous Trucking

by Torc | Jun 17, 2025 | Press Releases, Featured, News

The collaboration aims to advance autonomous trucking safety through cutting-edge AI research

Blacksburg, VA – June 17, 2025 – Torc, a pioneer in commercializing self-driving class 8 trucks, today announced its membership with the Stanford Center for AI Safety, which conducts state-of-the-art research to help ensure the safety of AI, specifically machine learning, for use in autonomous trucking applications. This membership marks a significant milestone in Torc’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and reliability of its autonomous trucking solutions as the company prepares for market entry in 2027.

The membership enables Torc to sponsor, collaborate in, and coauthor research with the Stanford Center for AI Safety, enabling direct access to those research findings as they happen. Access to the center’s research symposiums, seminars, and other member benefits also help Torc apply Stanford’s extensive AI Safety research in the company’s efforts to significantly enhance the safety protocols of machine learning models within its autonomous driving systems.

“Torc is proud to join the Stanford Center for AI Safety, reinforcing our mission to deliver safe, scalable, and trustworthy autonomous solutions,” said Steve Kenner, Chief Safety Officer at Torc. “This membership aligns with our commitment to advancing rigorous safety practices in AI development and supports our goal of providing highly reliable technology to our customers.”

The Stanford Center for AI Safety’s research focuses on developing robust safety protocols and advanced machine learning techniques to mitigate risks in autonomous systems. As a member of the center, Torc can leverage published research to continue to address critical safety challenges in autonomous driving applications. Ultimately, Torc will work to continue to enhance the reliability and safety of its machine learning models toward the company’s goal of fully commercializing autonomous trucks for long-haul applications in the U.S. in 2027.

“Collaborating with members in our affiliates program allows us to apply our research in AI safety to real-world challenges,” commented Duncan Eddy, Director of the Stanford Center for AI Safety. “Our work with Torc will include efforts to enhance the safety and reliability of autonomous driving systems, ultimately contributing to the advancement of this transformative technology.”

About Torc

Torc, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, a global leader and pioneer in trucking. Founded in 2005 at the birth of the self-driving vehicle revolution, Torc has over 20 years of experience in pioneering safety-critical, self-driving applications. Torc offers a complete self-driving vehicle software and integration solution and is currently focusing on commercializing autonomous trucks for long-haul applications in the U.S. In addition to its Blacksburg headquarters and engineering offices in Austin, Texas, and Montreal, Canada, Torc has a fleet operations facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas, to support the company’s productization and commercialization efforts, as well as a presence in Ann Arbor, MI, to take advantage of the autonomous and automotive talent base in that region. Torc’s purpose is driving the future of freight with autonomous technology. As the world’s leading autonomous trucking solution, we empower exceptional employees, deliver a focused, hub-to-hub autonomous truck product, and provide our customers with the safest, most reliable, and cost-efficient solution to the market.

Torc Officially Opens First Autonomous Hub in Fort Worth, Celebrates Commercialization Era

by Kiley Thompson | May 15, 2025 | News, Featured

Torc CEO Peter Vaughn Schmidt cuts the ribbon at the official opening of the new autonomous trucking hub.

The weather forecast for the week of May 11th in Fort Worth was clear and hot, unlike the week before. The week of May 4th, the skies were darkened by massive storms, dropping almost two inches of rain in a day. On the 11th, the high temperature was 75, and on the 12th, it was 79. But on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, the day Torc cut the ribbon on its newest location – its first autonomous trucking hub – it was a sweltering 97.

Welcome to DFW, everyone said. It’s spring but summer is coming. This is just the beginning.

And they’re right. This is indeed just the beginning. After 20 years in the robotics business, and six years of software research and development, Torc officially opened the company’s first commercial hub on that hot Tuesday morning, preparing to get their self-driving trucks hauling commercial freight on the I-35 corridor.

As we embark on this next phase, we are more excited than ever to be part of this community, to innovate alongside you, and to continue our mission to Drive the Future of Freight with purpose and passion.

– Peter Vaughan Schmidt, CEO

Torc welcomed local dignitaries, government officials, first responders, partners, neighbors from Hillwood’s AllianceTexas development, and many local community members and vendors. Tours were provided through the building, highlighting Torc’s story and history, path to commercialization, job creation, and how the autonomous yard flow will work.

The Hub features a customer experience center, offices, and dedicated control centers for fleet management and operations. It is located on I-35, the major freight route between Dallas and Laredo, Texas. Laredo is the largest economic port of entry in the US, with more than 15,000 truck crossings per day and $320B in total trade in 2024, and Fort Worth is a major distribution point to the rest of the country.

The Brains of the operation

One of the stops on the tour was inside the brain of Torc’s Hub, the Mission Management room. Dominated by a movie-theater sized screen with multiple tracking visuals playing simultaneously, the Mission Management room will track the lifecycle of each autonomous mission. Guests learned about the different parts of the mission, from the rigid pre-trip checklist through to the arrival transmissions at the end of a journey. Questions asked and answered included details on job creation over the next year through to customer success models and long-term plans for additional routes.

This hub represents more than just logistics. It represents years of relentless planning and prioritization, input from industry experts, and the dedication and tireless effort of Torc’s teams. It’s the realization of a bold vision—where autonomous trucks revolutionize the freight industry by making it more efficient, cost-effective, safe and reliable.

– Andrew Culhane, CCO

Guests were able to climb into one of Torc’s new fifth generation Freightliner Cascadia autonomous trucks, and see the Flex unit inside.

Watch the ribbon cutting ceremony.

THE EMBODIMENT OF Torc's COMMERCIALIZATION ERA

In the afternoon, after the official guests had toured the facility, Torc’rs welcomed their families and friends in to see their new offices. Everyone played corn hole and giant Connect 4, and ate spicy tacos and snow cones. Our safety drivers introduced their toddlers to their colleagues. Kids and families sat in the truck cab for pictures. People fanned themselves with Torc fans and escaped back inside for the A/C. Together, everyone watched a screening of Torc’s newest video, The Road Rises, playing on Mission Management’s screen. It focuses on the people behind the technology, and celebrates the accomplishments of hundreds of individuals, working together as one Torc team.

The few remaining empty hub offices will soon be filled by new Torc’rs. It will become more bustling, even more energetic. There will be more long hours and longer days, and then it’ll become a 24-hour a day facility. But May 13th was about celebrating getting to this point. It was opening the doors.

The road to Torc’s 2027 market entry is paved with groundbreaking advancements, and a lot of that pavement is in Fort Worth and Texas now. Keep following Torc as we continue to drive the future of freight.

Today isn’t just about opening a new location for Torc — it’s about opening doors to the future.

– Peter Vaughan Schmidt

Lisa Brown Joins Torc as Senior Director of Product Engineering, Safety & Security

by Kiley Thompson | May 6, 2025 | News

lisa-brown-sr-director-product-engineering-safety-security

BLACKSBURG, Va – May 6, 2025 – Torc Robotics, an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG and a pioneer in commercializing self-driving vehicle technology, today announced the appointment of Lisa Brown as Senior Director of Product Engineering, Safety & Security. In her role, she will be responsible for defining product safety goals, enhancing intrinsic and extrinsic measurability of our autonomous product, and constructing our release case for the driver out delivery.

Brown will lead the Product Engineering, Safety and Security team, accountable for the safety roadmap, release case progression, and evangelization of the safety culture at Torc, as well as making sure our software development is in line with our release argumentation. Additionally, with her Systems Engineering team, she’ll be defining the systems requirements for our driver out implementation, concurrent with cybersecurity and safety.

Brown reports directly to Sheila Scanlon, Chief Product Officer at Torc.

With over 20 years of experience in automotive design across electronics, chassis, powertrain, and business development divisions, she brings deep knowledge in systems engineering and a proven track record in new product launches. Previously, she spent 20 years at Toyota North America in both R&D and Business Development, most recently as the general manager of the Electronic Systems Vehicle department.

About Torc Robotics

Torc Robotics, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, a global leader and pioneer in trucking. Founded in 2005 at the birth of the self-driving vehicle revolution, Torc has over 18 years of experience in pioneering safety-critical, self-driving applications. Torc offers a complete self-driving vehicle software and integration solution and is currently focusing on commercializing autonomous trucks for long-haul applications in the U.S. Torc operates test facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and engineering offices in Austin, Texas; Stuttgart, Germany; and Montreal, Canada. Torc’s purpose is driving the future of freight with autonomous technology. As the world’s leading autonomous trucking solution, we empower exceptional employees, deliver a focused, hub-to-hub autonomous truck product, and provide our customers with the safest, most reliable, and cost-efficient solution to the market.

Torc Names Steve Kenner as Chief Safety Officer

by Torc | Apr 17, 2025 | People Ops, Featured, News

Steve Kenner, Safety and Regulatory at Torc

Kenner brings a wealth of experience leading safety at multiple automotive and tech companies as Torc nears market entry and commercialization

BLACKSBURG, Va – April 17, 2025 – Torc, a pioneer in commercializing self-driving class 8 trucks, today announced the appointment of Steve Kenner as the company’s Chief Safety Officer. Kenner brings nearly four decades of experience in engineering and automotive safety for companies like Aurora, Kodiak, General Motors, Uber and more to Torc as the company drives toward the commercialization of autonomous trucks.

In this role, Kenner will report to Torc’s CEO, Peter Vaughan Schmidt, overseeing the development and implementation of robust safety programs at a global level and representing Torc to federal and state agencies. Kenner will lead a team of internal safety experts, ensuring the continued cross-functional prioritization of safety into every facet of the organization – from development and testing to deployment.

“Steve’s impressive career trajectory and commitment to safety make him the ideal candidate to lead Torc’s safety, regulatory, compliance and government affairs efforts,” said Schmidt. “His deep expertise and leadership in the automotive industry will be instrumental in advancing our mission to commercialize autonomous trucks and ensure the highest standards of safety and regulatory compliance.”

“Torc’s innovative approach to autonomous trucking and its commitment to safety align perfectly with my professional values and goals. Joining Torc is an incredible opportunity to contribute to the future of transportation, and I look forward to working with the talented team to bring this technology to the freight industry,” commented Kenner.

Kenner’s distinguished career includes leadership positions at several leading U.S. automakers and technology companies, including Ford, Apple, Locomation and others. Most recently, he served as the Chief Safety Officer at Cruise, where he led a team of system engineers, safety experts, and regulatory compliance professionals.

Kenner holds an MBA from Stanford University and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Kettering University.

About Torc

Torc, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, a global leader and pioneer in trucking. Founded in 2005 at the birth of the self-driving vehicle revolution, Torc has nearly 20 years of experience in pioneering safety-critical, self-driving applications. Torc offers a complete self-driving vehicle software and integration solution and is currently focusing on commercializing autonomous trucks for long-haul applications in the U.S. In addition to its Blacksburg headquarters and engineering offices in Austin, Texas, and Montreal, Canada, Torc has a fleet operations facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas, to support the company’s productization and commercialization efforts, as well as a presence in Ann Arbor, MI, to take advantage of the autonomous and automotive talent base in that region. Torc’s purpose is driving the future of freight with autonomous technology. As the world’s leading autonomous trucking solution, we empower exceptional employees, deliver a focused, hub-to-hub autonomous truck product, and provide our customers with the safest, most reliable, and cost-efficient solution to the market.

Torc Announces New Engineering Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Further Fuel Autonomous Vehicle Innovation

by Torc | June 24, 2025 | News, Featured | 0 Comments

Strategic Location Taps into Regional Automotive and Tech Talent, Builds on Recent Dallas Forth-Worth Expansion Blacksburg, VA – June 24, 2025 – Torc, a pioneer in commercializing self-driving class 8 trucks, today announced the establishment of a new engineering...

Torc Joins the Stanford Center for AI Safety to Conduct Joint Research on AI Safety for Level 4 Autonomous Trucking

by Torc | June 17, 2025 | Press Releases, Featured, News | 0 Comments

The collaboration aims to advance autonomous trucking safety through cutting-edge AI research Blacksburg, VA – June 17, 2025 – Torc, a pioneer in commercializing self-driving class 8 trucks, today announced its membership with the Stanford Center for AI Safety, which...

Securing the Future: Meet Michael Maass, Director of Product Cybersecurity

by Alex Mesa | June 5, 2025 | Cybersecurity, Education, Featured | 0 Comments

At Torc, safeguarding safety-critical systems from evolving cybersecurity threats isn’t just a priority—it’s a coremission. At the helm of this mission is Michael Maass, the Director of Product Cybersecurity and Principal ProductCybersecurity Architect, whose career...

Torc Officially Opens First Autonomous Hub in Fort Worth, Celebrates Commercialization Era

by Kiley Thompson | May 15, 2025 | News, Featured | 0 Comments

Lisa Brown Joins Torc as Senior Director of Product Engineering, Safety & Security

by Kiley Thompson | May 6, 2025 | News | 0 Comments

Torc’s Approach to AI

by Torc | April 30, 2025 | Featured | 0 Comments

The self-driving semi-trucks of the future have arrived – and they’re driving on highways now. At Torc, our autonomous trucks are beyond the research and development of prototypes and moving into our commercialization phase. The trucks that will solve customer needs...

Torc Names Steve Kenner as Chief Safety Officer

by Torc | April 17, 2025 | People Ops, Featured, News | 0 Comments

Kenner brings a wealth of experience leading safety at multiple automotive and tech companies as Torc nears market entry and commercialization BLACKSBURG, Va – April 17, 2025 – Torc, a pioneer in commercializing self-driving class 8 trucks, today announced the...

Daimler Truck’s Autonomous-Ready Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadia Hits Texas Roads With Torc

by Torc | April 16, 2025 | Featured, News | 0 Comments

This news is released jointly with Daimler Truck. The original can be found at www.daimlertruck.com. Daimler Truck delivers latest iteration of autonomous-ready truck platform based on the new Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadia with redundant safety features to...

Daimler Truck’s Autonomous-Ready Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadia Hits Texas Roads With Torc

by Torc | Apr 16, 2025 | Featured, News

Torc's fifth generation Freightliner Cascadia with Daimler Truck

This news is released jointly with Daimler Truck. The original can be found at www.daimlertruck.com.

Daimler Truck delivers latest iteration of autonomous-ready truck platform based on the new Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadia with redundant safety features to Torc
Torc, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck, enters productization phase to prepare for commercial release.
In addition to existing routes in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona, the trucks will also be tested in autonomous mode on a new lane in Texas between Laredo and Dallas.
Joanna Buttler, Head of Autonomous Technology Group at Daimler Truck, stated: “Delivering the latest iteration of our autonomous-ready vehicle platform, including production-intent autonomy hardware to Torc marks a significant milestone for Daimler Truck towards series maturity and scaling.”
Peter Vaughan Schmidt, CEO of Torc, said: “Our strong collaboration with Daimler Truck represents six years of success in advancing the future of freight. Fully integrating Torc’s autonomous driver with Daimler Truck’s Freightliner Cascadia platform creates an industry-first, scalable, physical-AI autonomous trucking solution. This will unlock tremendous value for our customers by addressing key industry pain points and presents a clear opportunity to generate revenue and drive meaningful transformation across the industry.”

Stuttgart, Germany / Portland, USA – Daimler Truck North America has started delivering its latest flagship on-highway trucks to the autonomous testing fleet of Torc Robotics, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck. These trucks are based on the recently unveiled Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadia, which was introduced last year. The autonomous-ready version of the new Freightliner flagship is equipped with redundant safety features like braking and steering and is intended for series production.

Joanna Buttler, Head of Autonomous Technology Group at Daimler Truck, stated: “Delivering the latest iteration of our autonomous-ready vehicle platform, including production-intent autonomy hardware to Torc marks a significant milestone for Daimler Truck towards series maturity and scaling.”

Daimler Truck North America was the first in the industry to develop a scalable, powertrain agnostic, redundant autonomous vehicle platform. To enable SAE Level 4 autonomous driving, the company has purposefully designed and built redundancy into the Freightliner Cascadia platform for safety-critical systems for safe, driverless operations. With over 1,500 engineering requirements, all translated into features, and a second set of electronically controlled systems like an integrated power network, the autonomous-ready Cascadia sets an industry standard for autonomous systems integration.

The new generation of the industry’s best-selling Class 8 truck in the North American market redefines benchmarks in safety, efficiency, and profitability. In addition to key features for increased aerodynamics and more business efficiency, the new truck offers expanded capabilities for the Detroit Assurance Suite of Safety Systems, an all-new Intelligent Braking Control System as well as Dual Stage Intelligent LED Headlights. The newest version of the Freightliner’s on-highway truck also delivers a greater than 35 percent fuel economy improvement since the model’s first introduction in 2007. Daimler Truck North America installs all essential compute and sensor kits during the vehicle production process. This preparation allows Torc Robotics to seamlessly integrate their virtual driver upon delivery.

Deployed on one of America’s busiest freight lanes between Laredo and Dallas

In addition to existing test routes in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona, these trucks will also be tested in autonomous mode on a new lane in Texas between Laredo and Dallas mainly on I- 35.

There is significant freight volume moving between Laredo and Dallas, connecting major cities like San Antonio and Austin. Torc recently announced that it has signed a leasing agreement for an autonomous hub in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This hub will serve as the operational base for its autonomous testing efforts, customer freight pilots, and future commercialization. Torc is driving toward productization, positioning itself to scale and commercialize safe, robust autonomous trucking solutions on this busy freight corridor under real-world conditions.

In 2024, Torc reached another milestone by successfully completing driver-out test runs on a multi-lane test track in Texas. As a next step, Daimler Truck and Torc will further develop autonomous trucks to safely achieve the driver-out capability on public roads.

Peter Vaughan Schmidt, CEO of Torc, said: “Our strong collaboration with Daimler Truck represents six years of success in advancing the future of freight. Fully integrating Torc’s autonomous driver with Daimler Truck’s Freightliner Cascadia platform creates an industryfirst, scalable, physical-AI autonomous trucking solution. This will unlock tremendous value for our customers by addressing key industry pain points and presents a clear opportunity to generate revenue and drive meaningful transformation across the industry.”

Market entry planned for 2027

Daimler Truck and Torc aim to enter the U.S. market with SAE Level 4 autonomous trucks by 2027. In this application, the autonomous driving system takes over the entire dynamic driving task between two freight hubs.

Autonomous trucks can enhance business operations and manage increasing freight volumes, especially during driver shortages. They also have the potential to reduce accidents, as the system remains alert and never tires. Daimler Truck has highlighted the highly scalable and profitable market opportunities that autonomous driving is expected to offer.

Contact Daimler Truck:

Anja Weinert, +1 669 6001478, anja.weinert@daimlertruck.com

Paul Mandaiker, +49 176 30 999 267, paul.mandaiker@daimlertruck.com

Contact Torc:

Laura Lawton, +1 408 505 5820, laura.lawton@torc.ai

Forward-looking statements

This document contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views about future events. The words “aim”, “ambition”, “anticipate”, “assume”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, ”can”, “could”, “plan”, “project”, “should” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties, including an adverse development of global economic conditions, in particular a decline of demand in our most important markets; a deterioration of our refinancing possibilities on the credit and financial markets; events of force majeure including natural disasters, pandemics, acts of terrorism, political unrest, armed conflicts, industrial accidents and their effects on our sales, purchasing, production or financial services activities; changes in currency exchange rates, customs and foreign trade provisions; a shift in consumer preferences; a possible lack of acceptance of our products or services which limits our ability to achieve prices and adequately utilize our production capacities; price increases for fuel or raw materials; disruption of production due to shortages of materials, labor strikes or supplier insolvencies; a decline in resale prices of used vehicles; the effective implementation of cost-reduction and efficiency-optimization measures; the business outlook for companies in which we hold a significant equity interest; the successful implementation of strategic cooperations and joint ventures; changes in laws, regulations and government policies, particularly those relating to vehicle emissions, fuel economy and safety; the resolution of pending government investigations or of investigations requested by governments and the conclusion of pending or threatened future legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties, some of which are described under the heading “Risk and Opportunity Report” in the current Annual Report. If any of these risks and uncertainties materializes, or if the assumptions underlying any of our forward-looking statements prove to be incorrect, the actual results may be materially different from those we express or imply by such statements. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements since they are based solely on the circumstances at the date of publication.