PepsiCo has agreed to deploy Gatik’s self-driving trucks across its North American supply chain, the companies announced Monday. The startup currently runs autonomous deliveries for Loblaw in Ontario and is backed by its venture arm, Wittington Ventures, as well as Intact Ventures and Bell Ventures. (The Logic)

Talking point: The company already delivers PepsiCo products in ​​Texas, Arizona and Arkansas. Rich Steiner, Gatik’s vice-president of government relations and public affairs, said he could not comment on the possibility of adding self-driving trucks to Pepsi’s Canadian fleet, adding only that “anything is possible given PepsiCo’s reach.” Gatik said in a release that the trucks will be deployed within “regional networks that are hard to staff.” Though Gatik has worked with PepsiCo since 2022, the new deal comes as the U.S. tightens restrictions on commercial driving licences for certain immigrants.