The mining industry has a long history of adopting transformative innovations, with autonomous haulage standing out as one of the most significant. Over the past two decades, driverless haul trucks have moved from proving-ground experiments to mainstream operations across the world. This evolution of safety, efficiency, and flexibility demonstrates how autonomous solutions are redefining the future of mining.

Where It All Began

2005

The journey toward fully autonomous mining began in 2005, when Komatsu commenced trials of its Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) at Codelco's copper mine in Chile. These early experiments laid the foundation for what would become one of the most significant technological shifts in modern mining.

2008

Rio Tinto launched its  Mine of the Future program as a long-term vision to transform mining through automation, digital technology and data integration. The initiative aimed to improve safety, efficiency and sustainability by introducing autonomous haulage, remote operations centres and advanced monitoring systems. It positioned Rio Tinto as a global leader in mining innovation and automation. 

2011

In 2011, Rio Tinto and Komatsu signed a landmark agreement to deploy 150 autonomous trucks in Western Australia, marking the world's first large-scale commercial rollout of AHS technology. This partnership was pivotal in establishing the Pilbara as a global hub of mining innovation.

2012

Rio Tinto took a major step towards large-scale automation in 2012 with the introduction of its first driverless haul trucks at the Yandicoogina mine in the Pilbara. The project marked the company's initial move from pilot trials to real-world production, demonstrating that autonomous haulage could safely and efficiently operate in an active mining environment. Early results showed improved cycle consistency, reduced idle time, and lower operating costs, paving the way for further expansion.

2013

Building on the success at Yandicoogina, Rio Tinto extended autonomous haulage to its Nammuldi mine in 2013. The deployment further validated the technology's scalability, proving that autonomy could integrate across multiple mine sites. The Nammuldi operation became a model for Rio Tinto's broader automation strategy in the Pilbara, laying the groundwork for one of the world's largest autonomous mining fleets.

2015

By 2015, these were remotely controlled from Rio Tinto's Operations Centre near Perth Domestic Airport, over 1,200 kilometres away — marking the world's first fully autonomous mine operated entirely from a city office.

2017

In 2017, BHP completed the rollout of its first fully autonomous haul truck fleet at the Jimblebar mine. This implementation reduced exposure to driving-related hazards, directly increasing worker safety. It also improved productivity by optimising truck operation and created opportunities for workforce reskilling and new digital roles, illustrating the multifaceted impact of automation.

2018

In 2018, Hitachi joined forces with Whitehaven Coal to trial an autonomous haulage solution that combined Hitachi Construction Machinery's Smart Mining Truck, featuring advanced vehicle stabilisation controls, robotics, AC motor and drive control technologies, with the fleet management capabilities of Hitachi's Wenco International Mining Systems subsidiary. 

2019

By 2019, Fortescue Metals Group entered the autonomy race, deploying Cat 789D trucks fitted with Caterpillar's Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) at its Cloudbreak mine in the Pilbara. This marked Fortescue's formal entry into large-scale autonomy and signalled the rapid mainstreaming of driverless technology across Australia's iron ore sector.

That same year, Rio Tinto and Komatsu celebrated their long-standing partnership with the delivery of the 300th AHS truck to the Pilbara, maintaining one of the world's largest single-owner autonomous fleets.

BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) announced a major modernisation plan to retrofit up to 86 Komatsu 930E haul trucks with autonomous technology at its Goonyella mine. The initiative marked the start of a multi-year transformation involving technology upgrades, operational changes and workforce adaptation.

Throughout the 2010's, autonomy steadily expanded. Komatsu and Caterpillar extended deployments into Canada's oil sands and Chile's copper belt. At the same time, BHP, Fortescue, and Rio Tinto continued to scale up fleets across the Pilbara. 

2020

BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) commenced autonomous operations at Goonyella with a small fleet of retrofitted Komatsu 930E haul trucks. The trucks were progressively integrated into daily operations as the site adapted to the technical and operational challenges of retrofitting an active mine.

Across the mining industry, autonomous haulage had proven itself a reliable and effective way to improve both safety and productivity. By removing operators from high-risk environments, it significantly reduced heavy-vehicle interactions and on-site incidents. At the same time, consistent, data-driven truck movements improved fleet utilisation, optimised haul cycles, and enabled more precise mine planning. For many miners, the introduction of autonomy marked a turning point towards safer, more predictable, and more efficient operations.

2021

In 2021, Roy Hill advanced its automation program through a partnership with Epiroc and ASI Mining to convert its haul truck fleet to autonomous operation. The collaboration aimed to deliver an interoperable solution for Roy Hill's mixed fleet, capable of expanding across multiple vehicle types and integrating with existing mine systems. Epiroc and ASI worked alongside Roy Hill and its partners, Hitachi and Wenco, to convert the trucks and integrate the Wenco fleet management system.

The project began with testing and verification of up to 8 trucks before scaling to full fleet conversion. Epiroc and ASI Mining later received an order to automate 18 Hitachi EH4000 haul trucks, increasing Roy Hill's fleet to 96 autonomous-ready vehicles. 

2022

By 2022, BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) had successfully expanded autonomous operations at Goonyella, integrating a large fleet of autonomous haul trucks and establishing the site as BHP's most advanced autonomous mining operation in Queensland. In the same year, BHP also commenced the South Flank Autonomous Haulage Project in Western Australia, initiating the automation of 41 Komatsu haul trucks, with completion scheduled within 18 months.

2023

By 2023, this made Roy Hill one of the largest single-site autonomous haulage operations and the first to feature four different truck models from two original equipment manufacturers.

A Global Fleet Achieved

Global Fleet

By mid-2024, the global autonomous haul truck fleet had reached 2080, with Australia accounting for 927 trucks. Around the same period, EACON passed the milestone of 1,000 autonomous haul trucks equipped with its AHS. Between July 2024 and July 2025, the global number increased sharply to 3,832 trucks, autonomous haul trucks operating across surface mines worldwide. This total includes vehicles that are fully autonomous as well as those equipped with autonomy-ready systems. This increase representing an 84% rise in a single year, with China now home to the largest population of autonomous trucks at 2,090 followed by Australia, Canada and Chile.

As of July 2025, GlobalData's Mining Intelligence Centre, CHN ENERGY Investment Group (China Energy) operates the highest number of autonomous trucks globally, followed by Guanghui Energy, BHP and Rio Tinto. Caterpillar remains the leading OEM, with Komatsu ranking second. Chinese manufacturers Tonly and LGMG occupy the third and fourth positions respectively. Together, these four companies account for 88% of all tracked autonomous haul truck brands in GlobalData's database.

China

China has rapidly become a powerhouse for autonomy at scale. In October 2023, the South Open-Pit Coal Mine became the first single site in the world to surpass 200 autonomous trucks at a single site. The fleet, managed by EACON, included 172 hybrid units, representing a major leap forward in large-scale automation and low-emission mining. In June 2025, EACON started a project to deploy 400 autonomous haul trucks at Guanghui Energy's Baishihu Open-Pit Coal Mine, marking the largest single-site autonomous project announced to date. By September 2025, EACON had exceeded 2,000 autonomous truck deployments, almost double that of any other provider. Its operations now span 25 Chinese sites, with a growing fleet comprising 80% hybrid-diesel trucks and 20% battery-electric trucks. The company's trucks operate across a range of commodities, including coal, aggregates, iron ore, copper, gold, and zinc, positioning EACON as the world's largest autonomous haulage technology provider.

North America

In the North American quarry space, Komatsu has broken new ground through a partnership with Pronto, a developer of off-road autonomy systems. In August 2025, Komatsu and Pronto unveiled the Komatsu Smart Quarry Autonomous System, integrating Pronto's technology into haul trucks designed for quarry operations while aligning with Komatsu's Smart Quarry platform. The system is described as OEM-agnostic, enabling quarry operators to retrofit existing Komatsu trucks or procure new ones with built-in autonomy and operate 24/7 with reduced human intervention. This marks a significant shift by bringing autonomy, once reserved for mega mines, into the broader quarry sector.

Australia

In Australia, Fortescue Metals Group has committed to introducing 360 battery-electric autonomous trucks in partnership with Liebherr, scheduled to begin operation in 2026. The initiative forms part of Fortescue's strategy to decarbonise its mining fleet and lead the transition to zero-emission operations.

Unlocking the Next Frontier

With the success of autonomous haulage now proven, the next challenge is scaling it across diverse fleets. Mine operators increasingly demand interoperability: the ability for trucks from different OEMs to work together seamlessly and for fleets to integrate autonomy with emerging low-emission technologies.

This is where 'open autonomy' comes in. Open autonomy provides a universal interface that allows any Fleet Management System to connect with any autonomous platform. It breaks down proprietary barriers and fosters genuine collaboration between OEMs, autonomy providers, and mine operators, creating a more connected, flexible, and sustainable mining ecosystem.

EACON is redefining what this means in practice. Its agnostic autonomy solution delivers true interoperability at scale through the ORCASTRA® platform, a vendor neutral system that allows any truck, new or existing, hybrid or battery electric, to operate autonomously through a universal drive by wire interface. This approach enables mine operators to integrate autonomy across mixed fleets and existing assets while maintaining full flexibility and control. The system's open, distributed architecture connects seamlessly with a range of Fleet Management Systems and emerging digital platforms, allowing progressive deployment that adapts to each site's operational needs.

By promoting interoperability, open or agnostic autonomy fosters a collaborative environment where OEMs, technology developers, and mining companies can mix and match solutions, accelerating both innovation and large-scale deployment. 

Wenco, part of Hitachi, has taken this approach, highlighting how standardised protocols between Fleet Management Systems and Autonomous Haulage Systems create a single source of truth for equipment locations and a consistent framework for truck dispatch and safety management. These open standards are paving the way for a future where any haul truck, regardless of brand or model, can be retrofitted for autonomy and operate seamlessly within any compliant control environment.

Electric Autonomy: Driving the Next Phase of Smart Mining

China is already demonstrating this 'electric autonomy' at scale at the Yimin Open-Pit Coal Mine in Inner Mongolia. Developed by XCMG and powered by Huawei's 5G-A network, the 100-tonne trucks operate with full autonomy. The 5G-A infrastructure provides ultra-low latency (around 20 ms) and high bandwidth (500 Mbps uplink) connectivity to enable real-time control and 8K video feeds from the fleet. The Yimin fleet has demonstrated 24/7 safe operation even in extreme weather (from dust storms to −40°C winters), and plans are underway to expand it to 300 trucks in the near future. This example underscores how next-generation wireless communication is unlocking ever-larger autonomous fleets that span new powertrain technologies (like battery-electric propulsion) and new levels of operational coordination.

EACON is also advancing large-scale battery-electric autonomy across China's mining sector. The company has rolled out a series of battery-electric autonomous haulage deployments, which now account for around 20% of its 2,000-strong fleet. In 2024, EACON expanded its electric portfolio through two quarry projects deploying 29 EY70E electric trucks at Pingyin and Shuichang, followed by the delivery of battery-powered XCMG EX80 units at the Zijinshan Copper-Gold Mine. Later that year, the company introduced 52 battery-electric vehicles at the Hongshaquan 2 Open Pit Coal Mine, supporting both overburden and coal haulage through a centralised intelligent control system. It also delivered its first electric autonomous iron ore project at Baowu's Xichang mining operation, automating six SANY 70-tonne trucks using its ORCASTRA® autonomy platform. Most recently, EACON commissioned 16 battery-electric vehicles at Shougang Group's Daishihe Iron Ore Mine, developed in collaboration with Yutong. This initiative established one of China's most advanced autonomous, zero-emission haulage fleets and demonstrated full-cycle operations in just over one month. Collectively, EACON's projects demonstrate that electric autonomy has moved beyond pilot-scale trials and is now operating at commercial scale, accelerating the transition to low-carbon, intelligent mining. 

Looking Ahead

From just a handful of trial trucks in Chile in 2005 to thousands of autonomous vehicles across the globe, haulage automation in mining has come a long way. The next phase will not be about proving the technology; it will be about scaling it, ensuring interoperability, and integrating it with net-zero commitments.

At this critical juncture, collaboration will define the path forward. Open standards, V2V communication, and retrofit autonomy are paving the way for fleets of any brand, model, or energy source to operate together. EACON is committed to advancing this collaborative future, working with OEMs, technology partners, and mining companies to make autonomy accessible, adaptable, and sustainable for the industry as a whole.