DriveU.auto has received a strategic investment from Ashdod Port Company through its innovation and investment arm, Blue Ocean CVC.
The move follows a proof of concept for the company’s Autonomous Terminal Tractor in live operational conditions at Ashdod Port.
Around 80 terminal tractors are currently in operation at the port, where the vehicles are used to move containers between cargo vessels and storage areas.
DriveU.auto’s Autonomous Terminal Tractor Retrofit Kit is designed to convert existing terminal tractors into autonomous vehicles. The system is intended to help brownfield port operators introduce automation without replacing entire fleets or investing in new infrastructure.
The company said this approach can support faster return on investment, improved safety and the gradual scaling of autonomous operations.
READ: Ashdod Port delivers $7.6 million profit surge in H1 2025
According to DriveU.auto, this combines autonomous driving with remote operation technology to support continued operation in mixed environments, unclear situations, changing conditions and edge cases.
“Automation solves real operational gaps in container ports, and DriveU.auto offers a practical solution that can be implemented quickly and scaled easily.” said Alon Podhurst, CEO of DriveU.auto.
“We’re honoured by this vote of confidence by Ashdod Port, one of the most innovative and forward-looking ports globally, in our technology approach. Port terminal tractors, an annual market of $13 billion, are just the beginning. The same principles apply to additional operational use cases.
The retrofit system is aimed at enabling terminals to adopt autonomous operations across both older and newer fleets while avoiding disruption to ongoing port activities.
For more information:
DriveU.auto – https://driveu.auto/
