On the M-11 Neva corridor connecting St. Petersburg with itself, the fleet of unmanned trucks is set to grow from a handful to a substantial number. Officials disclosed that the count of autonomous tractors on this route will rise to 43. The figure was shared by Dmitry Bakanov, the deputy head of the Ministry of Transport, during a recent briefing. The information comes from RIA News and reflects plans to scale up the operation along the highway that serves as a major freight artery.
At present, nine driverless trucks are actively navigating the route. The ministry leader clarified that six belong to Kamaz, a Russian heavy vehicle manufacturer, and three are operated by Sberavtotech, a technology arm linked to Sberbank. Collectively these vehicles have logged about 1.8 million kilometers of mileage, illustrating their long-term testing and deployment on real roads as a path toward broader use.
Speaking at the Russia forum and exhibition at the VDNKh grounds, Bakanov reaffirmed that the autonomous convoy count on the M-11 will reach 43 by year-end. The plan underscores a clear push to expand electric- or hybrid-powered, self-driving freight solutions within the country, leveraging existing highway infrastructure to streamline cross-regional logistics.
Another notable detail is the policy of free passage. Until the end of the current year, autonomous trucks are permitted to use the M-11 without tolls, a incentive aimed at accelerating adoption and proving operational reliability for fleet operators and shippers alike. This incentive aligns with broader government efforts to develop autonomous transport while supporting economic efficiency on key transit corridors [Citation: Ministry of Transport briefing, Russia forum at VDNKh].
KamAZ first rolled out unmanned trucks on the M-11 Neva in June of 2023, marking a milestone in Russia’s push toward automated freight mobility. Even with autonomous control, the trucks maintain a human presence in the cabin, a configuration that blends automated operation with human oversight to address safety and regulatory considerations. The ongoing pilots are designed to gather data on vehicle behavior, traffic interactions, and road conditions to inform future scale-up decisions.
Officials have also hinted at deeper integration of unmanned trucking into international supply chains, including plans for cross-border goods transport between Russia and China. While specific timelines remain contingent on regulatory approvals and tech readiness, the trajectory points to a broader role for autonomous logistics in long-haul freight between major economic partners [Citation: Ministry of Transport statements].