Tokyo (SCCIJ) – Loxo, a start-up based in the capital of Bern, has launched the first driverless delivery service in Switzerland. Its cooperation partners are Migros, Switzerland’s largest retailer, supermarket chain, and employer, and Schindler, the world’s second-largest elevator manufacturer and the largest maker of escalators and moving walks.
The driverless vehicle, equipped with an electric motor, now delivers groceries in Ebikon (© Loxo).
Service start
Migros and Schindler recently announced that they were jointly testing the revolutionary service called “Migronomous”. The driverless vehicle, designed by Loxo and powered by an electric motor, is already delivering groceries between the Migros store and the Schindler campus in Ebikon.
This is the first time that such an innovative delivery service has been implemented on the roads of Switzerland – and in the whole of Europe.
The pilot project is taking place in the canton of Lucerne where the “Loxo Alpha” is in operation from Monday to Friday. Employees and workers at the Schindler campus order their supermarket products online, and staff at the Migros supermarket put the orders in separate shopping bags and load them into the delivery vehicle.
Customers pick up their online ordered groceries from the delivery vehicle (© Loxo).
Careful introduction
The Loxo Alpha then drives the 500 meters distance to the Schindler site, where people can pick up their shopping bags with the ordered items. The vehicle carries up to 64 shopping bags. “This has a huge potential to reduce private car traffic on Swiss roads, as customers will no longer take their cars to shop,” says Lara Amini, co-founder of Loxo.
The autonomous car uses its sensors to constantly scan its surroundings and navigates safely and emission-free through the surrounding traffic at a speed of 30 km/h. To make sure everything goes smoothly, a teleoperator monitors the delivery vehicle’s first trips. If necessary, this person can take control of the vehicle to ensure the necessary level of safety. The plan is to fully automate the delivery service in the final phase of the pilot project.
Fast learning process
Loxo has been working to create a reliable autonomous vehicle for last-mile package delivery since 2018. The team’s research has led to significant breakthroughs by combining autonomous driving technology with a state-of-the-art teleoperation system.
After successful trials, Loxo entered Phase 1 of prototype development and tested its technology on various projects. With proof of concept in hand, the company began welcoming manufacturing, commercial and service partners. The first vehicle was unveiled in December 2022, pre-sales have been initiated.
The autonomous vehicle was designed and built entirely by Swiss engineers. “Swissness” and sustainability combined with technology: with its autonomous delivery vehicle, Loxo is creating a milestone in delivery logistics and proving that the future of mobility can be emission-free and sustainable.
Text: SCCIJ based on material of GGBA
