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Planzer and LOXO have announced a significant milestone in urban logistics: the deployment of the first autonomous Level 4 (L4) commercial vehicle on the streets of Bern, Switzerland. This groundbreaking project, named “Planzer – Dynamic Micro-Hub w LOXO,” is set to transform city logistics, using LOXO’s cutting-edge digital navigation technology. With a two-year pilot phase in Bern, the initiative aims to reduce emissions, optimize delivery routes, and demonstrate the future of sustainable urban transportation.
Key Highlights:
- First autonomous commercial vehicle deployed in the Swiss capital, Bern.
- LOXO Digital Driver™ technology integrated into a retrofitted VW ID. Buzz vehicle.
- The project focuses on achieving full Level 4 driving autonomy for urban logistics.
- Two-year pilot phase will test operations in real-world conditions.
- Emphasis on sustainability, with mostly emission-free deliveries in congested city centers.
- Future scalability across Swiss cities following the pilot’s success.
Sustainable Solutions for City Logistics
As cities struggle with climate change, traffic congestion, and the need for sustainable transport, Planzer and LOXO are responding with a highly automated delivery solution. Level 4 autonomy—which requires no driver inside the vehicle—is expected to become legal in Switzerland by spring 2025. This legal shift opens new possibilities for freight mobility and last-mile delivery in cities.
LOXO’s Digital Driver™ software, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, was designed to revolutionize commercial vehicles. It allows nearly any drive-by-wire vehicle to be autonomously navigated on public roads, making it particularly effective for urban parcel delivery.
Pilot Phase in Bern
The two-year pilot phase in Bern will see LOXO’s Digital Driver™ guide a commercial vehicle multiple times daily between Planzer’s railway center and various logistics points in the city. Parcels will then be transferred to electric vehicles for final delivery to customers by Planzer Paket staff. Upon successful completion of the pilot, the project will expand to include eight swap boxes and roll out to other Swiss cities.
Commitment to Sustainable Urban Living
Planzer and LOXO’s project aims to address the growing demand for urban supply chains while minimizing environmental impact. The project contributes to sustainability through low-emission deliveries, ultimately helping to reshape city logistics.
Nils Planzer, CEO of Planzer, emphasized: “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.”
Shaping the Future of Autonomous Driving
This project is part of Planzer’s broader vision for sustainable, highly automated city logistics by 2028. The successful implementation of LOXO Digital Driver™ will not only reduce emissions but also improve delivery efficiency with optimized routes and vehicles tailored for city environments.
LOXO’s CEO, Amin Amini, highlighted the broader implications: “For the very first time, a commercial vehicle, piloted by the LOXO Digital Driver™ software, navigates the streets of a European capital with the aim of obtaining full L4 autonomy.”
With this collaboration, Planzer and LOXO are at the forefront of autonomous driving innovation, setting the stage for the future of urban logistics across Europe.
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