Beep, a Florida-based autonomous Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) provider, and Local Motors, a digital vehicle manufacturer, have announced a strategic partnership and new reseller agreement.
The collaborative agreement is intended to significantly expand the number of autonomous shuttles on both public and private roads through continued testing and safe deployments.
Under the reseller agreement, Local Motors will provide Beep with Olli 2.0 autonomous, electric, 3D-printed shuttles for future customer deployments. Beep and Local Motors will also partner to advance and expand the operating domain of multi-passenger, autonomous vehicles in concert with their ongoing testing and information sharing programme through the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“By partnering with Beep and leveraging our existing relationship with Robotic Research, we can bring Olli to new customers in expanded markets across the USA and abroad,” said Vikrant Aggarwal, president of Local Motors.
“We’re living in a world where self-driving technology is needed now more than ever, and this partnership is a huge validator of the increasing demand for autonomous solutions. By deploying more vehicles and introducing Olli to new, complex scenarios on public and private roads, we can provide safe, sustainable, and comfortable experiences for all riders now and in the future.”
Olli 2.0 is directed by Robotic Research’s AutoDrive autonomous kit, which is said to have proven capabilities for implementation in form factors similar to large configurations such as people mover platforms.
According to Beep, the software and hardware technology that enables Olli to drive in complex on-road transportation environments and other low-speed private campuses aligns with the company’s core initiatives in geo-fenced, fixed-route environments servicing first-mile and last-mile mobility.
“Partnering with Local Motors and Robotic Research and leveraging the new Olli 2.0 platform enables Beep to advance our strategy of providing multiple autonomous shuttle options for our client use cases based on their broad range of operational requirements,” said Joe Moye, CEO of Beep.
“This further advances our ability to deliver safe, efficient mobility services in North America for public and private communities. Partnering with a US-based supplier also opens new market opportunities for Beep given the significant federal funding that supports many transit programs across our country.”
