Investors such as EQT Ventures and IonQ have contributed $100 million to the Swedish autonomous freight startup Einride, which plans to expand its electric and pod-like truck operations worldwide.

EQT Ventures, the company's largest shareholder, is among the new and existing investors who have contributed $100 million to Einride, a Swedish startup that is well-known for its odd-looking electric and autonomous freight-carrying pods. An undisclosed strategic investment from the quantum computing company IonQ. was part of the raise. Neither Einride nor its investors revealed the post-money valuation of the business.

Einride's three business products—autonomous pod-like trucks that travel set routes, planning software for shippers, and electric big rigs—are being scaled as the company gets used to a new CEO. The funding will enable Einride to expand with its clientele and hasten the rollout of its autonomous freight technology, according to CEO Roozbeh Charli.

The company was established in 2016 in Sweden to upend the freight industry. Initially, it used electric trucks, and later, it used electric autonomous pods, which are specially designed to drive themselves without the need for pedals or a steering wheel.

Since leaving Sweden, Einride has grown to operate a fleet of heavy-duty electric trucks for businesses like PepsiCo, Carlsberg Sweden, and DP World in Europe, North America, and the United Arab Emirates. With clients like GE Appliances in the US and Apotea in Sweden, the company has gained some traction with its self-driving pod-like trucks.

According to Ted Persson, a partner at EQT Ventures, Einride is creating the most comprehensive, forward-thinking freight ecosystem, and Nordic tech frequently transforms industries in a subtle way. The startup for autonomous vehicles has difficulties growing on a commercial scale. Five months ago, co-founder Robert Falck was promoted to executive chairman, and CFO Charli took over as CEO. $300 million in debt, led by Barclays Europe, and $200 million in equity, from investors such as Northzone, EQT Ventures, Temasek, AMF, Polar Structure, and Norrsken VC, made up Einride's $500 million in 2022 fundraising.