December 8, 2025 - Vale, Caterpillar and Sotreq have signed an agreement to expand the fleet of autonomous haul trucks in iron ore operations in the Northern System, in the Carajás region, in Pará. The technology will be gradually expanded over the next five years at the Serra Norte and Serra Sul units, further increasing the company's operational efficiency, safety standards, and sustainability. The implementation will be accompanied by a plan to develop employees, preparing them to perform strategic functions in the digital environment.

Currently, the Northern System operation has 14 autonomous haul trucks with a capacity to carry up to 320 tons. This new agreement expands the fleet to approximately 90 autonomous trucks in the region by 2028, operated by Cat® MineStar™ Command for hauling, including trucks with a capacity to carry up to 400-tons.

 Autonomous truck in Brucutu mine (Minas Gerais).

Photo: Gustavo Andrade/ Vale

The initiative represents a transformational leap: autonomous trucks remove workers from hazardous areas, enabling safer and more inclusive environments, and increasing operational efficiency - as shown by results obtained in other Vale’s operations using autonomous vehicles - with gains of up to 15% in operational performance and a reduction of up to 7.5% in fuel, contributing to the reduction of the company's carbon emissions.

Since the implementation of autonomous vehicles in the Northern System began in 2019, more than 260 professionals have been trained in the new roles created and in interacting with digital systems, following international best practices and global industry developments.
“The use of autonomous transport technologies in our operations in the Northern Corridor is a fundamental strategy to strengthen our culture of operational excellence and prepare our teams to lead the challenges of increasingly efficient, competitive, and sustainable mining,” says Carlos Medeiros, Vale's vice president of Operations.

With this expansion, Vale reaffirms its role as a leader in the mining of the future — more innovative, safer, more efficient, and more sustainable — and in the development of professionals prepared to lead this transformation.

“By integrating autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analysis, we are modernizing our mining operations in the Northern Corridor, becoming a global benchmark in smart mining, promoting the transformation of the industry, and connecting us to international best practices,” says Rafael Bittar, Vale's Vice President, Technical.

“We’re proud to introduce Cat Command for hauling at Vale’s Carajás site,” says Marc Cameron, Senior Vice President at Caterpillar. “By equipping Vale’s haul trucks with our autonomous technology, we will be delivering scalable solutions that meet their needs across a mixed fleet.”

In Serra Sul, the trucks involved in the project will coexist with another technology consolidated at Vale: the truckless system, which uses a network of long-distance belt conveyors to transport ore from one point to another without fuel consumption and with a significant reduction in carbon emissions.

Vale's autonomous program began in 2018 with the implementation of Cat autonomous trucks at the Brucutu mine in Minas Gerais. Currently, there are more than 70 autonomous pieces of equipment in operation at the company, including trucks, drills, and yard machines.

About Vale

Vale is a global mining company that exists to improve lives and transform the future together. One of the world's largest producers of iron ore and nickel and a major producer of copper, Vale is headquartered in Brazil and operates globally. Its operations comprise integrated logistics systems, including approximately 2,000 kilometers of railways, maritime terminals, and 20 ports distributed around the world. 
Vale's ambitions are to be recognized by society as a benchmark in safety, the best and most reliable operator, a talent-oriented organization, a leader in sustainable mining, and a benchmark in value creation and sharing.

About Caterpillar

With 2024 sales and revenues of $64.8 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.
For nearly 100 years, Caterpillar has been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Their innovative products and services, backed by their global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.
Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through their Financial Products segment.

About Sotreq

Founded in 1941, 84 years ago, Sotreq's journey began when Sotreq and Caterpillar signed a contract under the name Sociedade de Tratores e Equipamentos Ltda. Sotreq has a presence in the Southeast, Central-West, North, and Northeast regions of Brazil, operating in the Mining, Construction, Energy, and Oil & Maritime markets, offering technological and customized solutions for their customers, totaling more than 60 facilities to support these Brazilian regions.