Self-Driving Cargo Vehicle Launched by WeRideSelf-Driving Cargo Vehicle Launched by WeRide

Chinese self-driving company WeRide has added another new vehicle to its portfolio in the shape of the Robovan W5.

The self-driving, electric cargo vehicle is being hailed as a major step forward in autonomous logistics vehicles and is said to be geared towards high-frequency urban usage.

Key to its appeal is a class-leading cargo space of 194 cubic feet and a payload capacity of 2,200 pounds. An operating range of 136 miles should also ensure long-distance drop-offs are no problem and its Level 4 capability applies to open roads. Top speed is a respectable 31 mph.

The automated functionality comes via WeRide’s proven technology that includes a self-designed redundant sensor kit, which detects vehicles, traffic lights, pedestrians and other road users, while providing 360-degree blind-spot-free perception to operate day and night in various traffic conditions. 

According to WeRide, this allows it to “navigate complex urban traffic environments with an intelligent path optimization system that analyzes traffic conditions in real-time, dynamically adjusting routes to avoid congestion.” Multi-vehicle platooning is also possible.

Safety features include a redundant drive-by-wire chassis, redundant perception, emergency braking, collision warning and driving status monitoring. As WeRide noted, it can also fall back on the company’s experience of nearly 1,900 days of autonomous operations and nearly 24 million miles of autonomous driving on public roads.

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The service can provide cloud-based intelligent scheduling, real-time monitoring, data analytics and remote over-the-air upgrades.

The Robovan W5 is not to be confused with the Robovan, a cargo van WeRide produced in 2021 in tandem with automaker Jiangling Motors. Nor is to be mixed up with the remarkable Robovan concept Tesla revealed in October last year, although it will be interesting to see if Elon Musk’s company attempts to use the name should it ever go to production.

“The Robovan W5 demonstrates WeRide’s latest breakthrough in autonomous delivery and ability to adapt WeRide’s proven autonomous driving technology across different urban scenarios with our self-developed universal autonomous driving technology platform WeRide One,” said Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide. said:

“From our GXR Robotaxi serving passengers and Robosweeper cleaning the urban environment to the Robovan W5 handling urban logistics, we’re creating a comprehensive ecosystem of autonomous driving solutions to cover diverse urban transportation needs.”

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The launch of the AV in China followed a busy period for WeRide, which has been expanding its footprint globally, launching a self-driving taxi service in the United Arab Emirates, autonomous bus services and street cleaners in Singapore and deploying its Robotaxi and Robobus in an innovative program in Switzerland to provide first and last-mile connectivity in suburban areas.