Self-Driving Truck Startup Gatik Raises $200M to Expand Driverless Fleet

Autonomous trucking startup Gatik has raised $200 million as it moves from early pilot programs to expanding commercial driverless delivery operations.

The funding round was led by Qatar Investment Authority and Koch Disruptive Technologies, with participation from Millennium Management, ARK Invest, and Intact Private Capital. Gatik, which is based in Santa Clara, California, has raised about $500 million since emerging from stealth in 2019.

Gatik targets growth in middle-mile autonomous delivery

The latest investment comes after Gatik signed a multiyear commercial agreement with PepsiCo. The company said the funding will support plans to expand its fleet, increase customer partnerships, and enter additional markets.

Gatik has focused on middle-mile logistics, using autonomous box trucks designed for short, repeatable delivery routes between distribution centres and retail locations. The company’s approach differs from other autonomous vehicle companies working on robotaxis, long-haul trucking, delivery robots, or industrial vehicles.

The company began with fixed routes covering fewer than 10 miles and later expanded to more complex operations involving multiple pickup and delivery locations across routes reaching up to 400 miles.

Driverless trucks operate commercially across multiple markets

Gatik manufactures its autonomous delivery trucks with Isuzu Motors and has developed a fleet designed to transport goods such as food and beverages. The company said it reached a milestone last year by removing safety drivers from commercial routes.

The startup now operates fully driverless trucks in several markets. Gatik said its latest generation of autonomous technology can operate continuously on surface streets and highways while handling conditions including light rain and snow.

The company has built partnerships with major retailers and suppliers, including Walmart, Loblaws, Kroger, and Tyson Foods. Its PepsiCo partnership involves 41 driverless box trucks that transport Frito-Lay products, such as Cheetos and Doritos, from distribution centres to stores in Dallas, Phoenix, and Northwest Arkansas.

Funding will support expansion and hiring.

Gatik said its commercial agreements represent about $600 million in contracted revenue. The company did not disclose its valuation or exact fleet size.

The startup currently has about 350 employees and plans to use the new funding to hire additional engineers and operational staff, expand into new markets, and grow existing operations.

Gatik CEO and co-founder Gautam Narang said the company is working with long-term investors who can support its expansion plans as it increases the number of driverless trucks, customers, and locations it serves.