- UPS will collaborate with Arrival to develop a range of EVs with Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS)
- UPS aims to deploy these EVs in Europe and North America
UPS’ venture capital arm, UPS Ventures has completed an investment in EV maker Arrival. It has also announced that it will purchase 10,000 electric vehicles from Arrival.
UPS will collaborate with Arrival to develop a range of EVs with Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS). The technology has been designed to increase safety and operating efficiencies. It includes the potential for automated movements in UPS depots.
Build the vehicles in micro-factories
Denis Sverdlov, founder and CEO at Arrival said, “UPS has been a strong strategic partner of Arrival, providing valuable insight to how electric delivery vans are used on the road and how they can be optimised for drivers. Together our teams have been creating bespoke electric vehicles, based on our flexible skateboard platforms, that meet the end-to-end needs of UPS from driving, loading/unloading, depot and back-office operations.”
Deploy these EVs in Europe and North America
UPS will start to test ADAS features in the latter part of this year. The purchase of future vehicles will depend on the successful tests of initial vehicles. The purchase prices of the vehicles have not been disclosed. Arrival will build the vehicles in micro-factories. It will use lightweight, durable materials created in-house said the company.
Arrival will build the vehicles in micro-factories, using lightweight, durable materials the company designs and creates in-house. UPS aims to deploy these EVs in Europe and North America. Previously, the companies had announced that they will develop a state-of-the-art pilot fleet of 35 electric delivery vehicles. These will be trialed in London and Paris.
