Scania autonomous trucks take centre stage in Red Bull world first
Scania has put its autonomous trucks front and centre in a world-first stunt with Red Bull Athlete Matt Jones. The mountain bike rider used two autonomously driven Scania trucks to complete a jump that demanded complete accuracy, with less than a second to make it work.
The attempt took place on an airfield near Södertälje, close to Scania’s home base. The setting was simple, but the requirements were not. Jones needed the two trucks to cross at the exact moment that revealed the gap he would leap through. For that to happen safely, every movement had to be controlled. That level of predictability is exactly what Scania designed its autonomous trucks to deliver.
Speaking afterwards, Peter Hafmar, Head of Autonomous Solutions at Scania, said the stunt pushed everyone involved. “What an incredible feat and world first to be involved with. It was a real team effort from the Scania and Red Bull teams, with months of working together to make Matt’s ‘impossible’ vision a reality. You need to remember; he has just a blink of an eye to make this jump.”
Hafmar added that the autonomous trucks provided the precision needed to open the narrow window for the jump. “Seeing first-hand the precision and safety that Scania’s autonomous trucks and technology has brought to this challenge fills us with immense pride.”
Jones said he relied completely on the trucks and the data behind them. “I tried to turn my brain off and become autonomous. I had full faith in the technology and maths. I was completely locked in staring at the road ahead with the trucks in my peripheral vision, knowing that they were going to cross over each other and reveal the gap I was going to jump through.”
He described the moment the trucks crossed as a surge of adrenaline. After landing safely, he said he felt “relief, pride and accomplishment”, and credited both Scania and Red Bull for making it possible.
Technology with real-world uses
This story will draw plenty of attention, but Scania’s wider autonomous programme is already moving beyond demonstrations. The manufacturer has autonomous mining trucks working for Rio Tinto in Australia, and the systems have been available to buy since 2024.
Scania is also testing on public roads in Europe in partnership with PlusAI, a Silicon Valley-based autonomous technology company. Together, they plan to bring factory-built self-driving trucks to hub-to-hub operations, supporting the shift to safer and more efficient freight movements.
The collaboration with PlusAI combines Scania’s hardware and in-house software with AI-driven systems designed for scalable deployment. For logistics operators, the commercial reality of autonomous trucks is no longer distant. Testing is ongoing, development is accelerating, and partnerships are strengthening to bring the technology to the road.
The Red Bull stunt may grab the headlines, but Scania sees it as a small part of a much broader move towards sustainable, efficient and low-impact transport. The company continues to work to Science Based Targets under its global sustainability strategy.
More background and the full video of Jones’ jump are available through Red Bull channels.
More Information:
Scania UK – https://www.scania.com/uk
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