VDL may be building self-propelled shuttles

VDL Groep is busy winning orders. This is not only important for the future of the company, but also for the continued existence of the production facility in Born. After all, these are very uncertain times since it was announced that the deal with the BMW Group will come to an end. VDL has several irons in the fire and now one is added: a collaboration with Schaeffler.

At IAA Mobility in Munich, the two companies are jointly presenting a concept version of an autonomous shuttle, intended to complement existing public transport. It is a 5 meter long self-driving electric vehicle with nine seats, a payload of one ton and a top speed of 70 km/h. On one battery charge, about 100 km should be covered. According to VDL, in practice this amounts to 350 km per day with a few charging sessions in between. People could call the shuttle themselves via an app. Mobileye is responsible for developing the autonomous driving systems. VDL Groep expects that there will be an increasing demand for such shuttle services worldwide in the coming years and wants to act early.

The current expectation is that these shuttles can be tested in practice from 2025, after which ‘several thousands’ will be built in Born from 2030 on an annual basis. Willem van der Leegte, the CEO of the VDL Groep, explains: “Autonomous shuttle vehicles will play an important role in our future mobility needs. This vehicle concept fits seamlessly into our broad mobility proposition, which includes design, electrification, connectivity, autonomous driving and services. Obviously, this envisaged collaboration is a fantastic opportunity to pioneer and innovate with our valued partners Schaeffler, Mobileye and others.”