Loblaw has signed a multi-year settlement with international autonomous automobile firm Gatik to construct out a self-driving truck community within the Higher Toronto Space (GTA).
Beneath the deal, 50 vehicles from Gatik’s autonomous fleet might be deployed over the subsequent 12 months — 20 by the top of the 12 months, with an extra 30 all through 2026. Loblaw says that is the largest-planned rollout of autonomous vehicles in North America, servicing greater than 300 of its grocery shops within the area. The businesses first teamed up in 2022 to deploy Canada’s first driverless industrial fleet.
As a part of this new section of the partnership, security drivers might be on board the automobiles earlier than transitioning to “Freight-Solely” (driverless) operations throughout Loblaw’s regional distribution networks within the GTA. The automobiles use the Gatik Driver AI platform and are able to safely transporting temperature-controlled items.
Loblaw additionally says Gatik labored carefully with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) to develop the Automated Business Motor Automobile (ACMV) Pilot Program, a provincial regulatory framework for autonomous automobiles. The businesses say this may guarantee security of their self-driving fleet.
In an e mail to MobileSyrup, Loblaw stated the partnership with Gatik would have “no impression” on its workforce. As an alternative, the corporate stated it was “about including capability and constructing a extra modern, resilient provide chain.”
Nonetheless, the corporate didn’t reply questions on what number of drivers it presently employs.
Per Loblaw’s Q2 2025 report, the corporate employed over 220,000 full- and part-time staff throughout over 2,800 areas, although it’s not clear what number of of that whole are drivers.
Loblaw additionally confronted vital controversy final 12 months over rising grocery costs, with hundreds of annoyed Canadians selecting to boycott the corporate.
Replace Sept. 23, 2025 at 5:27 p.m. ET: Added further data from Loblaw in regards to the impression of driverless vehicles on its workforce.
Picture credit score: Loblaw
Supply: Loblaw
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