Applied EV and Suzuki launch autonomous logistics electric vehicles

Japanese car maker Suzuki and Australian tech company Applied EV have unveiled their new, configurable robot EVs designed for logistics and industrial applications.

The driverless, bi-directional, four-wheel-steering ‘Blanc’ robot vehicles have no cabin and a come with configurable table-top chassis for a variety of jobs.

“The Blanc Robot can help solve global driver shortages in last mile logistics and is capable of operating in industrial applications where tasks by a traditional driver may be considered dull, dirty, difficult or dangerous,” Applied EV said.

The Blanc robot vehicle bodies, which are based on Suzuki’s long wheelbase Jimny platform, are manufactured in Japan and will be assembled by Applied EV in Australia.

Applied EV said it is ready to complete assembly of the first 100 Blanc robot vehicles for deployment in mid-2025, and has capacity to scale assembly to tens of thousands to meet demand.

“The demand for autonomous vehicle fleets that integrate seamlessly into both emerging logistics companies and established enterprises has never been stronger,” Applied EV CEO Julian Broadbent said.

“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.”

He said the vehicles come in a range of sizes and can be tailored for numerous autonomous driving applications, adding that users can expect double or triple shift up time from autonomous vehicles improving economics and significantly reducing carbon emissions across large scale operations.

These new cars are the result of a partnership between Suzuki and Applied EV to co-develop these autonomous EVs, which began in April 2023.