Embotech said it has received TÜV SÜD EC-Type Examination certification for its Autonomous Tractor Solution, allowing the deployment of driverless terminal tractors in gated industrial environments across Europe.
The certification grants CE marking approval for production use and makes Embotech the first company globally to hold two independently certified autonomous driving systems at SAE Level 4, the company said. The approval applies to operations without a human driver in controlled environments such as ports, logistics hubs and industrial yards.
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The TÜV SÜD certification covers functional safety, electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility and cybersecurity. Testing confirmed compliance with machine safety standards, including redundant perception systems, real-time detection and response, hardware redundancy and failsafe mechanisms, according to the company.
The certification is recognised in the United Kingdom, while alignment with ISO 13849 standards is intended to support future deployment pathways in North America.
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Embotech said its Autonomous Tractor Solution is designed to operate without external sensing infrastructure or reliance on off-board servers. All safety-critical functions are handled on board the vehicle, combining multi-modal perception, trajectory planning and TÜV-certified redundant computing hardware.
“Our system combines a dual-path software architecture: an AI stack that enables human-like driving in mixed-traffic scenarios, and a deterministic safety path that safeguards the AI,” said Alexander Domahidi. “This allows us to deliver high-performance autonomy without compromising on safety.”
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The system is intended for continuous operation in mixed-traffic industrial environments, including ports, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) production plants, distribution centres and large logistics yards. Embotech said it has drawn on more than a decade of autonomous driving development and experience from industrial deployments involving more than 500,000 autonomous vehicle operations.
Embotech’s first TÜV certification covered its infrastructure-based Automated Vehicle Marshalling system. The newly certified tractor solution is already being used in production settings, including autonomous terminal tractor services at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, the company said.