Aurrigo International Unveils Next-Gen Autonomous Vehicle for Airside Operations

Yesterday in Coventry, Aurrigo International plc introduced its cutting-edge autonomous technology, a collaboration with Innovate UK, the Center for Connected and autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), logistics leader UPS, and East Midlands Airport.

the star of the show is Auto-Cargo®, Aurrigo’s most substantial aviation vehicle yet. This fully electric marvel can carry up to 16,500kg of cargo while offering a cleaner alternative to traditional diesel vehicles.

Equipped with state-of-the-art automation features like advanced obstacle detection and real-time fleet management, Auto-Cargo® aims to ease worker stress levels while boosting safety and efficiency on the ground.

This innovative vehicle will soon be operational at UPS’ hub in East Midlands Airport—one of the UK’s busiest cargo terminals—transporting heavy loads between aircraft.

Aurrigo’s CEO David Keene shared his excitement: “This launch marks a meaningful step for us as we expand our presence in aviation. Our partnership with UPS has led to an autonomous solution capable of moving standard cargo pallets or two ULDs weighing up to 4,500kg. plus, it can tow an additional trailer carrying 12,000kg.”

The launch event provided industry insiders a firsthand look at Auto-Cargo® and its notable tech features. Keene noted their previous success with smaller models like Auto-DollyTug®, which have been instrumental in transporting passenger luggage worldwide; now they’re ready to tackle cargo logistics head-on.

Sarah Jones, Minister for Industry and Decarbonisation chimed in: “Our Industrial Strategy aims to build on innovations like Aurrigo’s technology that create jobs and opportunities across the UK while supporting our Plan for Change.”

The Auto-Cargo® boasts twin 18.4kW motors paired with four-wheel steering for enhanced performance. It operates efficiently even under challenging weather conditions—think rain pouring down at over 50mm per hour—thanks to newly developed software algorithms.

This vehicle reaches speeds up to 25km/h and can operate continuously for eight hours on just one charge!