Collect&Go has launched a pilot project using an unmanned electric vehicle for grocery deliveries in Leuven, marking a first for Belgium with a vehicle operating on public roads without a fixed route.
Developed in partnership with Telenet Business, the vehicle will begin delivering to customers in Leuven city centre from mid-May to August, targeting the challenges of last-mile delivery in dense urban environments.
The vehicle is remotely operated via a dedicated 5G connection and monitored in real time, combining autonomous navigation with human oversight to ensure safety. It is equipped with cameras, short- and long-range radar systems for obstacle detection and can operate at a maximum speed of 25 km/h.
Tom De Prater, director at Collect&Go, said: “Online grocery shopping is a key pillar for Colruyt Group… In a rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape, we continuously look for ways to organise the last mile as efficiently and sustainably as possible.”
The initiative has been approved by various federal and local authorities and forms part of wider efforts to test low-emission, technology-driven transport solutions in cities.
Belgium’s Federal Public Service for Mobility and Transport (FOD Mobiliteit) granted Colruyt Group a permit to operate the unmanned vehicle on public roads. The Roads and Traffic Agency and VIAS, a Belgian road safety institute were also involved.
The vehicle can carry two customer orders and will operate alongside Collect&Go’s existing delivery network. Customers choosing delivery via the unmanned vehicle will pay the same €7 (c. £6) delivery fee as for drivers.
The pilot reflects growing industry interest in autonomous and electric delivery solutions to improve efficiency, reduce emissions and address urban logistics constraints.
Belgium’s minister of mobility Jean-Luc Crucke said: “Autonomous mobility is no longer a distant vision of the future: it is a transformation that is happening right now, and one that we must guide responsibly. My role as Minister is to create the conditions that allow this innovation to develop safely, while also steering it towards more sustainable and low-carbon mobility.”
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