We are at a turning point for autonomous vehicles. The technology exists. In China and the US, commercial autonomous trucks already drive on public roads. Port of Antwerp-Bruges is keen to play its part as an innovation platform and develop such cases here too.

The technology works
Autonomous trucks are no longer a promise, but an operational reality. In China, the use of thousands of autonomous vehicles is already demonstrating a dramatic improvement in safety numbers: at one Chinese player, the insurance ratio dropped from the usual 96 percent for conventional transport firms to a mere 18 percent. Less damage, lower costs, fewer casualties. In the US, players like Volvo Autonomous Solutions are already driving commercially on long corridors.

Op 16 september organiseerde we port of the future : autonomous summit. Er kwamen technologiebedrijven gespecialiseerd in autonome (en remote-controlled) technologie samen.

Kai Xue , Vice President Europe at Inceptio Technolog

The strategic added value extends beyond safety alone. Autonomous trucks can accelerate the modal shift by making last-mile connections more accessible. In addition, they can also make night logistics more viable, thus alleviating daytime congestion. Two transitions in one: autonomous and electric driving can reinforce each other, as the omitted driver cost can offset the additional cost of electric propulsion.

‘’Autonomy scales where it makes economic sense. Ports are a perfect example: high traffic frequency, controlled environments and repetitive operations allow autonomy to grow rapidly within the same operational domain. Then innovation makes real sense.’’
Kai Xue,Vice President Europe at Inceptio Technology

The port as an innovation platform
Port of Antwerp-Bruges wants to accelerate the commercial roll-out of autonomous mobility. On the one hand, by putting pressure on policy to counteract fragmented legislation in Europe. On the other by developing commercial use cases that can then be scaled up to a full operational domain, such as a corridor towards Rotterdam or shunting operations within the port.

To this end, a Letter of Intent has been signed with Port of Rotterdam and North Sea Port to jointly organise autonomous transport within the ports as well as on the connecting roads. On the Rotterdam-Antwerp corridor alone, some 6,500 trucks travel that corridor every day. Through an innovation tender, OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and technology partners are selected to put those projects into practice.

Jonathan van Cauwenberge , Port of the Future advisor at Port of Antwerp-Bruges

In addition, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is also clearly positioning the port as the place for innovation around autonomous driving, sailing, flying and autonomous rail operations, for example, by organising the Autonomous Summit. An event full of demonstrations, keynotes and networking opportunities for the autonomous industry.

During the previous edition in September 2025, an Einride autonomous truck drove for the very first time on public roads in the port area. In mixed traffic, without blocked off lanes. Another project is currently already operational in the port area, where cars from Poppy are controlled remotely, so that, for example, they can drive towards employees of Boluda who can drive these cars back to their own vehicle.

‘’We are at a turning point. In the coming years, autonomous systems will shift from pilots and demonstrations to large-scale operational roll-outs. The question is no longer whether autonomy will come, but where it scales first. We want that to be Port of Antwerp-Bruges.’’
Jonathan van Cauwenberge,Port of the Future advisor at Port of Antwerp-Bruges

General Manager Policy Non-Life Insurance at KBC

Why the port is the perfect place for autonomous mobility
Ports and motorway corridors are the first environments worldwide where autonomous trucks are being deployed commercially. That is no coincidence. These domains are predictable and controlled, with no unexpected pedestrians or school children crossing. They are the ideal learning environment for the technology as well as the most logical starting point for commercial roll-out.

Costs, permits and decisiveness
A major hurdle is the transition cost: in the initial phase, a safety driver remains on board, while at the same time remote operation centres are being built. That extra cost will require additional support until economies of scale take hold. That’s why, for example, the Netherlands has already made 20 million euros available for pioneering projects on autonomous driving. We need to be just as bold in Belgium.

The licensing procedure also needs to be simpler. Today, candidate operators must successively seek approval at the federal, regional and municipal levels. Belgium does already have an exemption system that allows commercial activities with autonomous vehicles, as exists in Flanders for autonomous inland navigation. That is a good starting point, but the process lacks transparency for foreign technology companies. A more central and clear exemption framework for the entire Benelux would make our region more attractive as an implementation location.

But autonomous mobility is also entering new territory in the field of insurance. Where liability shifts from human to system.

‘’ Insurers can be an enabler in this story, but only if the data and governance are there to make risk predictable. Autonomy shifts the liability from human to system.’’
Ben Verlinden,General Manager Policy Non-Life Insurance at KBC

Finally, perhaps the greatest obstacle is that of decisiveness. Waiting for technology to pay off in other places is counterproductive. Those investing in local cases now build knowledge, attract technology companies and increase their chance to have a say in how technology and European standards evolve.

Antwerp Innovation Powerhouse
In collaboration with the City of Antwerp and the University of Antwerp, Port of Antwerp-Bruges signed a charter to launch Antwerp Innovation Powerhouse. With this, the partners aim to turn Antwerp into an integrated ecosystem for innovation. The focus lies on digital technology, sustainable chemistry and health. There is also room for emerging fields, such as autonomous mobility. The first content sessions were organised during SuperNova, the innovation festival around innovation and tech.
Source: Port of Antwerp-Bruges