Logistics company Planzer and autonomous technology company Loxo have deployed the first autonomous commercial vehicle in Bern, Switzerland as part of a project aimed at achieving Level 4 (L4) driving autonomy.
The pilot, dubbed ‘Planzer – Dynamic Micro-Hub with Loxo’, integrates Loxo’s Digital Driver software-as-a-service platform into a modified VW ID Buzz commercial vehicle, named Mathilde and equipped with two swap boxes, allowing for deliveries.
Loxo Digital Driver can be embedded into various drive-by-wire vehicles, enabling SAE L4 driving autonomy on public roads.
During an initial two-year pilot phase, Mathilde will run multiple daily routes, delivering packages to 14 strategically located micro-hubs across a 67km network between Planzer’s railway centre and key logistics points in Bern’s city centre.
From there, parcels will be transferred to small electric vehicles and delivered to customers by Planzer staff.
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If the pilot proves successful, Planzer and Loxo plan to expand the project to other Swiss cities, incorporating up to eight swap boxes.
In Switzerland, new legislation regulating automated driving is set to come into force in spring 2025, opening the door for advancements in freight mobility and last-mile parcel delivery.
According to Nils Planzer, CEO and chairman of Planzer, the project aims to address the growing demands of urban supply chains while scaling a sustainable, data-driven approach to city logistics.
By utilising largely emission-free vehicles, the initiative contributes to the overall sustainability of urban environments.
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Planzer said: “The uniqueness of this project lies in its direct impact on society.
“We didn’t just want to integrate automated technology into existing systems; we aimed to develop an entirely new concept and business model.”
Planzer’s ‘City Logistics 2028 – Dynamics on the Last Mile’ strategy includes several projects in the realm of highly automated driving, with the pilot in Bern marking an extension of Planzer’s current city logistics framework.
Loxo’s Digital Driver will undergo multiple approval phases to achieve full L4 autonomy, navigating a commercial vehicle within an urban environment.
Achievements and innovations in last-mile logistics will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector – and to book your table!
