First-ever autonomous truck ride in Belgium at Port of Antwerp-Bruges

September 19, 2025

Autonomous Summit showcases future of transportation in port

Port of Antwerp-Bruges, as the port of the future, is fully committed to autonomous mobility on the land, at sea and in the air. The first Port of the Future – Autonomous Summit brought together technology companies, port operators and policy-makers to showcase the latest applications, from drones and vessels to container shuttles and trains. The highlight was a Belgian first: the first time a fully autonomous heavy-duty truck has taken to public roads, as demonstrated by Einride in our port.

Key highlights

Live demonstrations of autonomous technology with drones, vessels and vehicles at the Autonomous Summit
Belgian first: demo of a self-driving truck by Swedish technology company Einride
Port of Antwerp-Bruges as pioneer in facilitating and accelerating autonomous mobility

Autonomy as a lever for efficiency, safety and sustainability

Port of Antwerp-Bruges is one of the most complex logistics hubs in the world. This is precisely why the port is an ideal testing ground for innovative applications such as drones for inspection and monitoring, unmanned and semi-unmanned vessels, and remotely piloted cars. These autonomous systems ensure smoother goods flows, shorter waiting times and greater safety by reducing people’s exposure to risky or repetitive tasks. At the same time, they make an important contribution to climate ambitions by reducing emissions and using resources more efficiently.

Belgian first with Einride

With Einride’s demonstration, Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ focus on autonomous mobility takes on a new dimension. For the first time in Belgium, a fully autonomous heavy-duty truck will drive on public roads. Years of data collection have allowed Einride to roll out its autonomous technology on a large scale, following successful applications in Sweden and the United States. The cab-free design of the truck allows one operator to monitor multiple vehicles, opening up new prospects for cost-effective and safer transportation. While the vehicle operates fully autonomously using a combination of radar, LIDAR, and camera technology for a 360° view, Einride applies an AI-powered control tower to monitor the transport operations and assist if needed.

Port of Antwerp-Bruges as catalyst for Europe

With initiatives such as the Port of the Future – Autonomous Summit, Port of Antwerp-Bruges aims not only to accelerate local innovation, but also to contribute to Europe’s competitiveness. By bringing together companies, policy-makers, research institutions and start-ups, the port is developing an ecosystem where autonomous technology is tested and made scalable. As such, it can count on the ambitions of both the European, federal and Flemish governments to create so-called regulatory sandboxes, or zones in which new technologies can prove their reliability and potential.

Autonomy in action

During the Autonomous Summit, visitors will have the opportunity to explore more than 20 live and interactive demonstrations of autonomous technology on the water, on the quayside or in the air. The event – an initiative of Port of Antwerp-Bruges in cooperation with the European Union, Alice, AUTOSUP, FIT, inlecom, PAVE Europe, PIONEERS, The Beacon and VIL – shows how autonomy is already an integral part of port operations and how this technology is evolving step by step, from test phase to daily reality.

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “With this event, we are demonstrating that autonomy in our port is not a distant concept. Autonomous solutions are already making us smarter, safer and more sustainable today. And that is exactly what we need to continue to strengthen our role as a world port. After all, we want to be a gateway for goods, but also a gateway to the future.

Jean-Luc Crucke, Minister of Mobility, Climate and Ecological Transition: “ This first Port of the Future – Autonomous Mobility Summit shows how innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. With the approval of the first autonomous level 4 truck in Belgium, we are taking a step toward safer transport and demonstrating that our country can play a pioneering role in the mobility of tomorrow.

Andrea De Candido, Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) DG RTD – European Commission: “What we are seeing today in Antwerp perfectly aligns with European ambitions: developing innovative technologies that are efficient, safe, sustainable and scalable. Through pioneering projects like this, we strengthen Europe’s position in future-oriented automated mobility solutions.

Henrik Green, CTO and General Manager for Einride Autonomous Technologies: “ Now in our second European country, Einride continues to demonstrate success in securing permits and achieving fi rst-of-their-kind deployments. Today in Antwerp, we showcase how public and private sectors can come together toward shared goals. European Ports, such as Antwerp-Bruges, are essential for decarbonizing logistics and secure our supply chains; and with the European Commission acknowledging autonomous vehicles as key to EU competitiveness, we’re proud to showcase a clear example of how innovation and regulation can be balanced for safer, more effi cient and sustainable logistics.

Johan Klaps, Vice Mayor for the Port and Economy City of Antwerp / President of the board Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “Antwerp is much more than a logistics hub; it is also a place where the mobility of tomorrow is tested and refined. Autonomous and sustainable applications like Einride’s prove that innovation here is not optional, but an engine for competitiveness and economic growth.