Technology firm ZF has teamed up with Aachen-based EV specialist e.GO Mobile AG to start production of autonomous electric minibuses and commercial vehicles from 2019.

ZF’s CEO Wolf-Henning Scheider and Dr Günther Schuh, founder and CEO of e.GO Mobile AG

The joint venture between the two organisations will manufacture the e.Go Mover autonomous EV that was unveiled last year as both a people and a cargo mover, with the companies initially targeting five-digit volumes for production.

ZF is providing electric drive systems, steering systems and brakes as well as its AI-based ProAI central computer and sensors which enable automated driving functions.

ZF’s CEO Wolf-Henning Scheider clearly sees the benefits for commercial vehicles when it comes to introducing autonomous systems.

“Initially, we expect to see automated driving activities more commonplace on company premises and logistics depots, in harbours or in agricultural environments as operations there tend to be more recurrent and the surroundings are not too complex.”

The technology is also expected to take off well in the areas of freight logistics and passenger transport where it can both reduce operating costs and increase safety for all road users.