New York, NY Einride has just announced it is partnering with Lidl as Lidl begins an exciting and ambitious transition to electric, self-driving transportation. The partnership will bring Einride one step closer to its goal of reducing Sweden’s greenhouse emissions by 40 percent by 2035, and will play a major role in Lidl Sweden’s ongoing sustainability mission. Lidl is an affordable and established European supermarket chain that recently arrived in the United States, and plans to open 100 locations on the East Coast by mid-2018. In 2017, Lidl was the first supermarket in Sweden to compensate for its emissions.

If all goes as planned, Lidl Sweden and Einride will roll out the pilot Einride Pod program in the third quarter of 2018.

Johannes Fieber, CEO of Lidl Sweden, says, ”The supermarket industry is very transport intensive and will continue to produce high emissions as long as it is dependent on fossil fuel technology. During the 2016/2017 fiscal year, Lidl completely switched to alternative fuels such as electricity, natural gas, biodiesel or eco-labeled diesel, which reduced the environmental impact of transport by 25 percent. By switching to electric trucks, transport emissions can decrease by up to 93 percent. Einride’s self-driving Einride Pod is a big step forward in Lidl’s battle for fossil free transport.”

Sweden’s Transport Agency released a mandate granting permits to self-driving vehicles on public roads in July 2017. Einride and Lidl have contacted the Transport Agency and are planning to submit a license application in November 2017.

Robert Falck, CEO of Einride, says: ”Domestic road transport is responsible for approximately 30 percent of Sweden’s greenhouse gas emissions. Our goal is for the Einride pod to be used in 40 percent of Swedish road transport by 2035, which would reduce Swedish greenhouse gas emissions by an equivalent 40 percent. Collaboration with Lidl is an important step towards that goal.”

Einride and Lidl will begin testing in Halmstad.

About Einride and the Einride Pod Einride is a Stockholm-based transport company founded in 2016. The Einride Pod is Einride’s solution to the transport sector’s logistical and environmental challenges. The Einride Pod is self- and remote controlled, allowing for battery-driven operation for long distances. The pod is not a hybrid and is powered entirely by electricity.

Specifications for the T-pod: Load Capacity: 15 standard pallets (0.8 x 1.2 meters) Weight at full capacity: 20 tons Length: Approximately 7 meters Battery capacity: 200 kWh Range: 200 kilometers

About Lidl Lidl Sweden is the smart choice for customers purchasing groceries. At Lidl, we offer high quality groceries at the best price, which is possible due to Lidl’s own brands. In Sweden, Lidl currently has about 170 stores from Trelleborg in the south to Skellefteå in the north, making Lidl Sweden’s fifth largest supermarket chain. In total, Lidl has more than 3,600 employees in Sweden. Read more at www.lidl.se. Lidl’s sustainabilty report provides more information on Lidl’s climate initiatives and that Lidl is the first grocer to compensate for their emissions.  lidl.se/hallbarhet