LOXO and Planzer Unveil Autonomous Delivery Vehicle in Bern
The joint venture, ‘Planzer – Dynamic Micro-Hub w LOXO,’ aims to bring sustainable, efficient deliveries to cities like never before.
As cities face growing pressure to find sustainable transport solutions, this project offers a pioneering approach to urban delivery.
With streets becoming increasingly congested and climate concerns mounting, highly automated driving technologies could provide a lifeline.
In this context, Level 4 (L4) autonomy, which enables vehicles to operate without a driver, is seen as a game-changer for the logistics industry.
A step toward sustainable urban logistics
Planzer and LOXO’s innovative project aims to showcase the full potential of this technology. Their vehicle, powered by LOXO’s Digital Driver™ software, is set to take to the streets of Bern for a two-year pilot, becoming the first autonomous commercial vehicle of its kind in Europe.
LOXO’s Digital Driver™ is a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution that can be integrated into almost any drive-by-wire vehicle.
It provides SAE Level 4 autonomy, allowing the vehicle to drive on public roads without human intervention.
Nils Planzer, CEO of Planzer, says: "The uniqueness of this project lies in the fact that it will have a direct impact on society. We didn’t just want to integrate automated technology into existing systems, we wanted to develop a completely new concept and a new business model."
The Bern pilot project
The pilot project will run in Bern for two years, during which the autonomous vehicle will drive multiple times a day from Planzer's railway hub to key logistics points in the city centre.
Parcels will then be transferred to small electric vehicles and delivered to customers by Planzer Paket staff. This marks an innovative shift in how goods can be transported in urban areas, reducing emissions and enhancing delivery efficiency.
Once the pilot phase is complete, further development will expand the system to accommodate up to eight swap boxes, allowing for even larger deliveries across Swiss cities.
"This collaboration represents a significant step for the autonomous driving industry and the European continent,” comments Amin Amini, CEO of LOXO.
“For the very first time, a commercial vehicle, piloted by the LOXO Digital DriverTM software, navigates the streets of a European capital with the aim of obtaining full L4 autonomy."
Revolutionising last-mile delivery
Beyond its immediate technological breakthroughs, this project marks a step forward for sustainable and efficient city logistics.
Planzer's "City Logistics 2028 – Dynamics on the Last Mile" strategy is all about reducing emissions and improving delivery routes through automation. By partnering with LOXO, Planzer is pushing forward with its goal of making last-mile deliveries more environmentally friendly while also adapting to the changing landscape of urban freight mobility.
Both companies see this project as a significant move toward the broader adoption of autonomous vehicles in the logistics sector. By reducing the need for drivers and cutting emissions through electric vehicles, Planzer and LOXO are setting a benchmark for future logistics systems.
The Swiss government's upcoming regulations on automated driving, expected in 2025, could pave the way for the widespread adoption of these technologies.
As this legislation comes into effect, LOXO and Planzer hope to scale their autonomous solutions to other Swiss cities, demonstrating how automation can help shape the future of freight mobility.
In the meantime, the pilot project in Bern serves as a testing ground for refining the technology and building confidence in fully autonomous deliveries.
“Our partnership with Planzer holds great promise—it’s an opportunity to showcase our industry-leading SaaS solution, which can be seamlessly integrated into virtually any drive-by-wire commercial vehicle,” concludes Amin.
With this collaboration, the future of urban logistics is arriving, not just with more efficient deliveries but with a clear commitment to a greener, more sustainable future for cities across Europe.
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