REWE tests autonomous delivery van
German retailer trials Level 4 self-driving vehicle for grocery deliveries in Bochum.
REWE has begun testing a highly automated delivery vehicle in everyday operations, becoming the first food retailer in Germany to use a Level 4 self-driving van to deliver groceries to customers. The six-month pilot is taking place in Bochum in partnership with Swiss tech company LOXO and the city’s economic development agency.
A specially equipped VW ID. Buzz, branded for the REWE delivery service, is now operating on selected routes in the city’s western districts. The vehicle drives autonomously but is accompanied by a safety driver, who remains in the cockpit and carries groceries to customers’ doors. Orders continue to be placed as usual through the REWE online service, with the new vehicle integrated into existing planning and e-commerce systems.
REWE says the goal is to explore how autonomous vans could support or supplement current delivery operations, and to determine which technical and economic performance indicators can realistically be achieved. “With this pilot project, we are once again pushing ahead in Germany,” said Kai-Uwe Reimers, Head of Research & Innovation at REWE digital. “We want to understand how highly automated vehicles can sensibly complement our delivery processes and identify new technological possibilities early on.”
LOXO is responsible for the vehicle’s software and operation in Bochum. The company’s Digital Driver system combines advanced AI with modern sensor technology to process data quickly enough for fully automated driving on public roads.
Bochum’s economic development agency supports the project as part of the city’s broader effort to position itself as a hub for new mobility technologies. “Bochum has evolved from a production location into a laboratory for the future,” said managing director Dr. Thomas Wollinger.
