Daimler Exec Named CEO of Torc Robotics

Peter Vaughan Schmidt, currently head of Daimler Truck’s autonomous technology group, will become CEO of Torc Robotics on October 1, 2022. Schmidt succeeds Michael Fleming, who will continue to sit on its board of directors.

Torc is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck.

Fleming realigned Torc to focus on building autonomous technology for class 8 semi-trucks and quadrupled the company into a global organization with teams in four locations in the United States and Europe, according to the company. Development teams pushed autonomous-truck technology forward toward Torc’s vision of being the first company to bring a profitable and scalable autonomous truck to market safely.

Martin Daum, chief executive officer of Daimler Truck, noted, “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Michael Fleming.

“His achievements for our company and for our industry as a whole cannot be overstated,” said Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck, in a prepared statement. “He is a true pioneer and visionary who paved the way for autonomous driving, founding Torc Robotics 17 years ago. Torc has been part of the Daimler Truck family since 2019 and, with Michael at the helm, has successfully further developed its software solution for autonomous driving and adapted it to our Freightliner trucks.

Schmidt has been deeply involved in autonomous technology for a number of years, most recently as head of Daimler Trucks’ autonomous business unit where he orchestrated majority investment in Torc in 2019, and has worked closely with Fleming since.

“We are all excited about this new chapter in Torc’s history,” he said in a statement. “We’re building on Torc’s long tradition of autonomous innovation and safety, and standing on the shoulders of the pioneers who built this industry from the ground up, starting 17 years ago with Torc’s founding. We’re looking forward to focusing on our customers’ needs, developing great technology together, and bringing the best possible product and much needed capacity to market as quickly and safely as possible.”

Source: Torc Robotics