Two EZTow autonomous tow tractors driven by EasyMile’s driverless technology have been deployed at a major European automotive parts manufacturer in Germany, marking its most complex and fully integrated Level 4 autonomous logistics deployment to date.
This milestone showcases both the manufacturer’s and supplier TractEasy’s commitment to cutting-edge industrial automation and next-generation logistics solutions.
Advanced Autonomous Logistics at Scale
The newly deployed EZTow vehicles, capable of towing 14-ton and 20-ton payloads, now operate on the manufacturer’s largest and most demanding logistics route. The system covers nine production stations over an extensive mixed-traffic circuit that crosses both indoor and outdoor environments. Each vehicle and trailer spans up to 20 meters in length, transporting diverse car body parts between unloading and production points while navigating alongside forklifts and manually driven trucks.
This implementation represents TractEasy’s most sophisticated configuration to date, handling material flows with high volume variability – from compact, heavy containers to bulkier solid-load items – and managing a high number of drop-off points for enhanced flexibility.
Streamlining Operations and Cutting Costs
A key driver for the deployment was the manufacturer’s aim to automate its internal logistics and reduce reliance on third-party service providers. It has also mitigated risks by automating this complicated route including eliminating the potential damage human drivers can make and reducing the testing and training required to ensure drivers can manage this complexity. With EZTow now fully integrated into production operations, the company has successfully eliminated external transport services, achieving significant cost savings and gaining greater control over internal material flow.
The project's decisive factors included TractEasy's ability to meet lead time expectations and infrastructure requirements, as well as the suitability of its vehicles for our specific logistics challenges.A representative from the manufacturer’s logistics team said:
The solution delivers a highly efficient, adaptable transport flow and is expected to generate a full return on investment within two years.
Beyond Pilots: A Fully Operational System
Unlike many automation initiatives that remain in pilot phases, this deployment is a full-scale operational implementation. Vehicles are dispatched by operators at designated stations and follow pre-defined routes, forming an integral part of the site’s live production flows.
This project represents a significant step forward in logistics automation. We are incredibly proud of it, as to the best of our knowledge, it's the most complex autonomous tow tractor deployment anywhere in the world to date and we are grateful for the confidence that Voestalpine placed in us for this critical project.Rich Reno, CEO of TractEasy said:
Commitment to Long-Term Transformation
This deployment is backed by a long-term operational contract and underscores the manufacturer’s strategic shift toward automation, flexibility, and digital transformation in logistics. It signals growing momentum in the adoption of autonomous vehicle technology as a scalable, sustainable solution for industrial material handling.
This article was originally published by EasyMile.
