Founded in 2019 after a decade of research carried out at Tu Munich, Fernride is one of the emerging figures of earthly autonomy in Europe, alongside the French startup ex9 and in competition with the American Outrider. The Munich company is developing a platform combining artificial intelligence, human supervision and modular material, independent of the type of vehicle, to automate logistics operations in critical environments.
From its beginnings, Fernride oriented its offer to port terminals and logistics hubs, spaces where security constraints, repetition of tasks and the shortage of labor create a structural need for autonomous solutions. Its first customers include HHLA in Hamburg, Volkswagen and DB Schenker. The company obtained the first security certification of an autonomous terminal tractor issued by Tüv Süd, paving the way for deployments without safety driver.
In a context marked by the war in Ukraine and the reorganization of supply channels, Fernride today widens his field of action to the defense. Its ambition is to apply its technology to military logistics operations, in particular to reduce risks in conflict zones and reallocate human resources to strategic missions.
This development is reinforced by the arrival at the board of directors of Thomas Müller, former CEO of Hensoldt and member of the Council of Airbus Defense. The company thus claims a dual-use positioning, at the crossroads of civil logistics and defense.
With a workforce of more than 150 people, the company has announced an extension of its serial A, adding € 18 million to an initial financing of € 57 million, bringing the total of the lifting to € 75 million. The operation was carried out by Helantic, with the participation of strategic investors, family offices, venture capital funds and business angels, including Thomas Müller. The founders of Fernride are Hendrik Kramer, Maximilian Roth and Jean-Michel Gloess.
