Robert Falck, founder of the electric and autonomous freight startup Einride, is stepping down as CEO. After nearly ten years leading the company, Falck will now serve as executive chairman, where he’ll focus on long-term strategy and preparing Einride for a future IPO.
The leadership change comes as Einride scales its technology, expands internationally, and raises more funding. Stepping into the CEO role is Roozbeh Charli, who has been the company’s chief financial officer. Charli has helped build Einride’s operations and commercial success across Europe and North America over the past five years.
Falck launched Einride in 2016 with a mission to cut emissions in the freight industry. It was his seventh company. Before that, he led manufacturing engineering at Volvo and even founded a startup in the nightclub space. His experience blends both industrial and entrepreneurial worlds.
At Einride, he aimed to reinvent trucking. The company began with heavy-duty electric trucks and later introduced autonomous pods with no steering wheels or pedals. These vehicles are designed for full automation from the start.
In a statement, Falck said the timing was right for a shift in focus. “After nearly a decade of building as CEO, it’s time to focus on where I can create the most long-term value,” he explained. As executive chairman, he’ll lead company strategy and guide the IPO process.
Charli plans to build on Falck’s vision and help the company grow responsibly. Einride already operates one of the largest fleets of electric trucks in Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Its customers include PepsiCo, Carlsberg Sweden, and DP World.
The company has raised more than $654 million so far. Its last major round was in 2022, when it secured $500 million. To reach profitability, Falck previously said the company would need another $100 million in working capital. As of late 2024, Einride had about $5 billion in contracted revenue and was tracking $50 million in annual recurring revenue.
The leadership transition signals a new phase for the company. With its technology proven and demand growing, Einride is now focused on global scale, financial health, and going public when the time is right.
