Komatsu Partners with Pronto to Introduce Autonomous Haulage Technology in North American Quarries
August 7, 2025 — Mining.com
Komatsu, a global leader in heavy equipment manufacturing, has announced a strategic partnership with Silicon Valley-based autonomous vehicle startup Pronto to bring cutting-edge autonomous haulage technologies to quarry operations across North America. This collaboration aims to revolutionize quarry operations by integrating advanced self-driving systems into haul trucks, enhancing safety, efficiency, and operational insights.
Launch of Komatsu Smart Quarry Autonomous Powered by Pronto
The centerpiece of this partnership is the launch of Komatsu Smart Quarry Autonomous, a new system that incorporates Pronto’s autonomous driving technology into quarry-sized haul trucks. This innovative solution seamlessly ties into Komatsu’s existing Smart Quarry platform, delivering a comprehensive and intelligent fleet management ecosystem for quarry operators.
Designed to be OEM-agnostic, the system provides flexibility for operators to retrofit their existing Komatsu vehicles or opt for new trucks fully equipped with Pronto’s autonomous haulage technology. This adaptation enables continuous, 24/7 operations with minimal need for human intervention, marking a significant leap forward in quarry productivity and safety.
Enhancing Safety, Efficiency, and Operational Control
By removing drivers from potentially hazardous quarry environments, the new autonomous system aims to greatly enhance onsite worker safety. Moreover, it ensures consistent cycle times and improved fuel efficiency—key drivers of operational cost savings and environmental sustainability.
Komatsu and Pronto emphasize that the combination of reliability from Komatsu’s hardware and the scalable, intelligent autonomous platform from Pronto delivers data-driven insights that empower quarry managers to optimize every facet of their operations through the Smart Quarry platform’s analytics capabilities.
Industry Impact and Future Prospects
Anthony Levandowski, CEO of Pronto, highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating, “Partnering with Komatsu is about more than technology, it’s about accelerating the future of heavy industry. Previously, the most advanced autonomy was reserved for the largest mines. Today, by combining Komatsu’s trusted hardware and vast support network with Pronto’s scalable, intelligent autonomous platform, we are fundamentally changing the game. We’re enabling a future of enhanced safety and incredible productivity that is now accessible to quarries of all sizes.”
Jason Anetsberger, Komatsu’s Senior Director for Customer Solutions, added, “This collaboration with Pronto accelerates our vision of smart, automated quarry operations. We have decades of experience with autonomous haulage in large-scale mining. Now we’re bringing that expertise to quarries of all sizes. It’s a solution that helps drive productivity beyond what was previously possible and can support efforts to enhance safety by facilitating the removal of workers from areas of potential hazard.”
Advanced Technology Underpinning the System
Pronto’s autonomous haulage technology utilizes advanced artificial intelligence combined with rugged environmental sensors to accurately perceive and navigate haul roads within quarry sites. These technologies significantly reduce the complexity and cost involved in deploying autonomous systems, making cutting-edge automation accessible to smaller and mid-sized quarry operations.
When integrated with Komatsu’s Smart Quarry Site fleet management and analytics suite, operators gain unprecedented real-time control and actionable insights, fostering smarter, data-driven decision-making.
This alliance between Komatsu and Pronto signals a new era for the quarry industry, where automation, safety, and operational productivity converge through intelligent technology. As autonomous haulage becomes more widely adopted, quarries across North America are positioned to reap the benefits of next-generation mining solutions.
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