Coretura, a joint venture between Daimler and Volvo, seeks to enhance truck performance post-delivery with a centralized software platform for improved updates.
At the IAA Transportation event in Hannover, Germany, Coretura unveiled its ambitious plan to redefine how heavy trucks manage software updates post-production. Currently, a heavy truck is equipped with 100 to 150 small computers that create challenges in keeping them updated with the latest software. Coretura, a partnership between Daimler Truck and Volvo Group, aims to streamline this process, according to CEO Johan Lundén.
Coretura serves as what Lundén describes as an “essential enabler,” akin to a truck operating system. This centralized software platform will provide the necessary application programming interfaces (APIs) for truck manufacturers, creating a simpler development environment. The initiative aims to minimize the complexity of managing numerous small computers by consolidating functions into two high-performance computers. One will handle robust functions such as advanced driver assistance and safety, while the other will take care of lower-demand tasks like infotainment.
Streamlining Connectivity and Updates
One significant challenge in truck software management is that not every small computer in the vehicle has its own internet connection. This limitation complicates over-the-air updates, as information must pass through several intermediaries to reach its destination. As Lundén points out, this can lead to unintended consequences, where an update meant for one system might inadvertently disrupt another. For example, a routine update to the infotainment system could prevent the vehicle from starting.
By centralizing critical functionalities into two main high-performance units, Coretura could drastically reduce the number of updates needed from around 150 to approximately 40. This change promises a streamlined approach, minimizing possible disruptions and ensuring the vehicles can receive timely over-the-air updates that enhance performance and safety.
Coretura’s Role in Truck Technology
Coretura positions itself at the fundamental layer of truck software, akin to the operating system of a computer. It provides the foundational support upon which other technologies and applications can run—those developed either by truck manufacturers or third-party vendors. Recently, Coretura has selected a Vector-QNX software platform to underpin its high-performance computers.
However, Lundén hesitates to liken this system to the “iPhone on wheels” analogy often used in tech circles. He argues that a software failure in a truck's safety-critical system presents far more significant risks compared to issues one might encounter with a smartphone. As a result, Coretura has designed its platform to protect safety-critical systems from routine updates, ensuring reliability and cybersecurity for the connectivity units it provides.
Enhancing Truck Performance Over Time
A central tenet of Coretura’s vision is that trucks should not merely degrade in performance after leaving the factory. Instead, vehicles can continuously improve through software updates in a software-defined environment. Lundén emphasizes that the condition of a truck at the point of delivery represents its lowest capability, suggesting that ongoing software updates can enhance functionality and efficiency as time goes on.
He notes, however, that improvements are constrained by physical capabilities. For instance, while software can optimize performance aspects in battery-electric trucks, other configurations, such as converting a 4x2 tractor into a 6x4, are beyond software's reach. Coretura's flexible platform will allow for significant enhancements, particularly for electric vehicles, which can be configured and tuned with fewer regulatory concerns than traditional diesel-powered trucks.
Market Strategy: Expanding Beyond Founding Companies
Currently, Volvo Group and Daimler Truck are Coretura’s primary customers, but Lundén expresses a strong desire to attract additional commercial vehicle manufacturers looking to adopt a modern operating system. Given that the founders cover a substantial share of the market, Coretura is positioned to become a de facto industry standard.
However, Lundén acknowledges that many manufacturers are cautious about transitioning their core electronic systems to rely on a third-party provider. While interest has been robust, the path to widespread adoption will require overcoming significant hesitations from potential clients.
Future Projections and Growth
Coretura, which began with around 50 employees in June 2025, is rapidly expanding and aims to scale to between 400 and 450 staff by the decade's end. The company employs a development model that extensively relies on coding stored in a centralized repository, enhancing automation for both software development and testing processes.
A toolchain that supports application creation in both Linux and Android environments has already been established. Furthermore, Lundén highlighted that Daimler Truck is set to showcase its first vehicle utilizing Coretura software by the end of the year, marking a pivotal moment for the venture. He noted that the critical phases of software maturation will occur closer to the decade's close, as Coretura aims for production-ready configurations.
With a focus on creating an information-rich ecosystem for commercial vehicles and enhancing the performance potential of trucks post-delivery, Coretura is positioning itself as a leader in the transition towards more intelligent and connected freight solutions.
The future for Coretura looks promising as it attempts to bridge the gap between traditional truck technology and modern demands for software reliability and performance enhancement.
