Scania autonomous trucks to make Aussie mining debut

Scania and Australian services provider, Regroup, are set to make history with the world’s first fleet of autonomous in-pit mining trucks destined for the Pilbara in 2025.

The 11 autonomous rigid G 560 8x4 tippers, which will transport manganese ore for Element 25 at its Butcherbird site, are the result of a collaborative effort between Scania, Regroup and Element 25.

The new fleet will be operating as an expansion of a current program, and units should start arriving in the second half of 2025.

“In Australia, Scania has been working closely with several partners in the local mining industry over recent years to finesse our autonomous truck program in advance of this announcement,” said Scania Australia Managing Director, Manfred Streit.

“We are delighted that this historic event, the first global order for a fleet of Scania’s new autonomous trucks, has been made by a privately owned Australian company, which will provide these trucks for use in an Australian mining environment.”

Regroup, a fully integrated civil, mining and bulk commodities haulage partner, sees the autonomous truck fleet as the first critical stage in its path towards a zero-tailpipe emissions mining fleet future.

“Along with Scania, we are excited to be establishing our first fleet of autonomous vehicles in the Australian mining industry. It’s not lost on us that we are able to collaborate with one of our key and long-standing partners in Element 25 as we look to roll this solution out across their site,” said Regroup Managing Director, Michael Still.

“We have always aligned our values in supporting industry innovation and the electrification of the global vehicle fleet. It is great that we can demonstrate this onsite. Regroup has excelled at initiating and delivering sustainable and renewable practices, and these new autonomous trucks are just the first step in our transport plan.

“We look forward to adding Scania zero-emission autonomous mining trucks as the next step. In addition to the autonomous trucks coming next year, we have also ordered a driver-operated battery electric Scania rigid 8x4 truck that we will look to incorporate into the Element 25 Butcherbird operation, which will serve as a water cart, underlining our overall aim of decarbonising our mining activities.”