Torc Robotics, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG specializing in self-driving vehicle technology, signed a lease agreement for a new facility in Hillwood’s AllianceTexas development, which will serve as its autonomous truck hub in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The hub will support Torc’s autonomous testing, customer freight pilots, and future commercialization efforts planned for 2027, according to a news release.

The 17-acre facility includes 22,000 sq. ft. of office space and will feature a customer experience center, offices, and control centers for fleet management and operations. Torc plans to begin occupying the site early this year, with construction continuing through the first half of 2025 to meet the standards required for autonomous vehicle operations.

“This new hub will enable us to better serve our current and future customers, enhance our operational capabilities, and drive forward the adoption of autonomous technology in the logistics industry,” said Torc’s CEO, Peter Vaughan Schmidt, in a release. “As we work toward commercialization, the new hub will give us access to talent, resources and routes that we didn’t previously have, and we’re excited about the growth opportunities ahead.”

The location positions Torc near a major freight corridor between Dallas and Laredo, Texas, along Interstate 35. According to the release, Laredo is the largest U.S. economic port of entry, with more than 15,000 truck crossings daily and $320 billion in trade last year.

Andrew Culhane, Torc’s chief commercial officer, said the expansion comes on the heels of the successful product acceptance and test validation of company’s autonomous trucks without a driver in a multi-lane, closed-course, highway-speed environment. “As we continue through the productization phase, we are excited about the opportunities this new hub opens up.”