Robert Falck, founder of electric and autonomous trucking company Einride, has stepped down as CEO, transitioning to the role of executive chairman as the Swedish startup prepares to scale operations, raise additional funding, and consider a future public offering.
Falck, who founded Einride in 2016 with the goal of decarbonizing freight transport, said the leadership transition will allow him to focus on the company’s long-term strategic direction. “After nearly a decade of building as CEO, it’s time to shift my focus to where I can create the most long-term value,” he said in a statement. “As executive chairman, I will focus on the overall company strategy, including ensuring that Einride can go public when we find the time is right.”
Einride’s chief financial officer, Roozbeh Charli, has assumed the role of CEO effective immediately. The company credited Charli with building much of Einride’s operational infrastructure and driving commercial growth in Europe and North America over the past five years. Charli said he plans to continue advancing Falck’s vision while guiding the company through its next phase of growth.
Founded as Falck’s seventh venture, Einride gained attention for its electric and self-driving freight solutions, including autonomous pods designed without steering wheels or pedals. Under Falck’s leadership, the company built one of the largest heavy-duty electric truck fleets operating across Europe, North America, and the Middle East, serving clients such as PepsiCo, Carlsberg Sweden, and DP World.
Einride has raised $654 million to date, including a $500 million round in 2022, according to PitchBook. Falck said in a previous interview that an additional $100 million in working capital would help the company scale toward profitability. He also noted that Einride has secured approximately $5 billion in contracted revenue and is on track for $50 million in annual recurring revenue in 2024.