Software expert Applied EV is preparing to unveil its sixth generation Blanc Robot autonomous vehicle, in partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation, with the vehicles ready for deployment with strategic partners by next summer.
The assembly of the first 100 Blanc Robot vehicles is now ready to begin, with all the body structures manufactured by Suzuki Motor Corporation now shipped from Japan.
The vehicle, which is manufactured with no cabin and a configurable table-top chassis, is designed to solve the global driver shortage in last-mile logistics and operate in industrial landscapes where tasks by a traditional driver may be considered dull, dirty, difficult or dangerous.
The vehicle, which can work multiple consecutive shifts, will also help cut costs and slash carbon emissions across large scale operations.
Apllied EV said the assembly of the first 100 Blanc Robot vehicles marks an important milestone towards mass production of the non-passenger autonomous vehicles.
The sixth generation Blanc Robot is based on the Suzuki’s long wheelbase Jimny platform, significantly reducing production costs and enabling high volume production.
All functions and features of the Applied EV Blanc Robot are software controlled, including three Applied EV secure interfaces, Applied EV Drive API (autonomous and AI driving software), Applied EV App Space API (non-driving vehicle functions) and Applied EV Cloud API (secure data and diagnostics for third party applications).
Announcing the milestone, Applied EV said: “The market for autonomous vehicles is reaching an inflection point. Technologies across the entire value chain have advanced significantly and there is a growing mainstream acceptance of autonomous vehicles.
“Business models are also evolving, shifting from limited specialised deployments to autonomous fleets that provide a lower cost base and higher efficiency. Applied EV is first to create a clear path to commercialisation with safety rated vehicles that can be mass produced.”
Applied EV’s chief executive Julian Broadbent, added: “The demand for autonomous vehicle fleets that integrate seamlessly into both emerging logistics companies and established enterprises has never been stronger.
“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.”.
