Ground autonomy platform FERNRIDE, today announces the extension of its Series A financing round, raising an additional €18 million. This brings the total funding to €75 million, fueling the acceleration of dual-use autonomous logistics solutions across Europe.
Building on its work in civilian logistics with customers such as HHLA, Volkswagen, and DB Schenker, FERNRIDE is now extending its technology and expertise to the field of defence logistics.
I spoke to Hendrik Kramer, CEO and co-founder of FERNRIDE to learn more.
FERNRIDE’s vision has always been to automate jobs that are essential but also repetitive and dangerous — jobs humans shouldn’t have to do. This is true in logistics, defence, agriculture, mining, and construction. The company employs a human-assisted autonomy approach, which allows for remote takeovers of trucks when necessary. This ensures seamless integration and reliable operations for logistics operators.
FERNRIDE prepares to scale its solution in container terminals, following the groundbreaking first-ever safety certification in July of an autonomous terminal tractor by TÜV SÜD and the transition to operations without a safety driver.
This confirms that the company meets EU standards for safety, cybersecurity, and system reliability — a critical step toward large-scale industrial deployment across Europe, and vital for defence logistics.
Automation not only eliminates the requirement for human drivers but also enhances on-site safety. It improves vehicle efficiency by eliminating expensive idling periods while trucks are being loaded, thanks to the seamless switching capabilities of teleoperators who can maximise productivity by managing multiple vehicles.
Why defence logistics is the next frontier
According to Kramer, last year the team asked themselves what the next chapter should be and the defence opportunity stood out.
“It’s huge, urgent, and strategically important.
We are one of the very few companies in Europe that has developed industrialised autonomous driving solutions that can be applied to defence logistics.”
With this launch, FERNRIDE aims to enhance mission flexibility, protect lives in high-risk zones, and help defence organisations reallocate skilled personnel from repetitive transport tasks to more strategic roles.
According to Kramer, automation is the only way to ensure resilient civil and defence logistics:
“People talk about tanks, jets, and drones, but without logistics — supplies of ammunition, food, and water — none of those work. Trucks are also prime targets for drones, making it very dangerous to drive them.”
At the same time, Europe needs to double its logistics capacity to defend itself, and it doesn’t have enough people willing or able to do this work.
Germany is a vital hub for NATO, moving vast amounts of cargo from A to B. This means that if there were a conflict on NATO’s Eastern flank, many of today’s truck drivers would be called to serve at the front lines in their home countries. That would leave no one to move cargo across Europe.
“Soldiers should focus on strategic tasks, not the easiest-to-automate ones like driving trucks to deliver cargo. So the logic we applied in the civil market transfers directly to defence,” shared Kramer.
Building for Europe’s sovereignty
The expansion is also part of Kramer’s personal drive to support European values and sovereignty. He contends that while the US has great autonomous technology, Europe needs its own solutions.
"Europe needs sovereignty in critical industries and technologies. Autonomous systems for container terminals and defence are mission-critical for Europe’s future. I want to contribute to that mission as quickly as possible.”
Built to withstand cyberattacks and operate in GPS-denied environments.
Many battles today are fought in cyberspace. Cybersecurity has always been central to FERNRIDE. According to Kramer, ports are strategic assets and constant targets in hybrid cyberwarfare.
“We built and implemented strong protections against cyberthreats.”
FERNRIDE has also tested its systems in contested environments.
“For example, in Finland, close to the Russian border, GPS often didn’t work due to interference,” shared Kramer.
“We had to develop GPS-free localisation within our self-driving stack. Now our vehicles can operate in GPS-denied environments, which is a huge advantage for defence.”
Backed by dual-use investors and industry leaders
The extension is backed by Helantic and joined by various prominent dual-use investors, including Thomas Müller, former CEO of Hensoldt and Board Member of Airbus Defense, who also takes a seat on FERNRIDE’s Board.
In addition to existing shareholders doubling down, several new strategic investors, family offices, and venture capital firms joined the round, further supporting the mission. Thomas Müller, who joins the Advisory Board of FERNRIDE, commented:
“FERNRIDE’s technology has already proven itself in civilian logistics, and its high potential to protect lives and strengthen Europe’s defence forces is undeniable.
This is exactly the kind of Made-in-Germany innovation we need to ensure technological sovereignty.”
FERNRIDE is focused on the civic side in scaling its product across European container terminals. On the defence side, it's launching several projects with European armed forces and vehicle manufacturers, integrating autonomous driving into the next generation of vehicles.
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