On 25 September 2025, autonomous vehicle manufacturer Einride announced that one of its lorries had, for the first time in Europe, carried out an international freight movement without a driver on board. The journey took place at the Ørje crossing on the border between Norway and Sweden, made possible through the integration of Einride’s systems with Norway’s Digitoll digital customs platform, via its partner Q-Free. The cargo was declared in advance, enabling automated customs clearance without the need for a driver.
Crossing a national border is one of the greatest challenges for autonomous vehicles, due to differences in regulations and infrastructure such as road signage and customs procedures. The initiative was supported by the Norwegian Customs Authority Tolletaten, which regards automation as a key area of interest for future operations. The transport employed the Einride Driver software platform, the purpose-built autonomous vehicle, and the Control Tower, the company’s fleet control and management solution. The integration of these systems demonstrated how safety, efficiency and lower emissions can be combined in complex operational contexts such as border crossings.
The trial is part of the Modi project, co-financed by the European Union, which aims to accelerate the adoption of connected, cooperative and automated mobility in heavy goods transport. The project brings together several public and private partners from Sweden and Norway, including Statens vegvesen, Sintef, Q-Free, Trafikverket and Østfold kommune. The transport was carried out on behalf of PostNord, which handles around 200 million parcels annually across the Nordic region.
