A new autonomous logistics vehicle called the “Blanc Robot” promises to make Australia’s last-mile logistics smarter and safer. Melbourne-based company Applied EV recently announced plans to deploy the first 100 units of the Blanc Robot by mid-2025. Suzuki Motor Corporation manufactures all the vehicle’s body structures and ships them from Japan.
The 6th Generation Blanc Robot has no cabin and features a configurable table-top chassis, making it suitable for a wide range of tasks. In a press release, Applied EV stated that it can help “solve global driver shortages in last-mile logistics” and operate in industrial applications where traditional drivers face tasks that are dull, dirty, difficult, or dangerous.
It is based on Suzuki’s long wheelbase “Jimny” platform, which helps reduce production costs and allows for high-volume production. Applied EV expects that it will operate for double or triple shifts. This can help save costs and greatly reduce carbon emissions in large operations.
A New Step for Autonomous Fleets
“The demand for autonomous vehicle fleets that integrate seamlessly into both emerging logistics companies and established enterprises has never been stronger,” said Applied EV’s CEO, Julian Broadbent.
“While transportation businesses are eager to adopt cutting-edge technologies, they require complete, real and actual ‘solutions’ to drive meaningful implementation at scale. Applied EV, in collaboration with our partners, has addressed this challenge with a turnkey solution.”
“Powered by software, our vehicles come in a range of sizes and can be tailored for unique autonomous driving applications. The Blanc Robot marks the first purpose-built autonomous vehicle released for scale, produced by Suzuki and running on Applied EV software. The first 100 production units are underway in Australia, with the capacity to scale to tens of thousands to meet demand.”
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