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Amazon India is set to introduce up to 1,000 electric trucks from Eicher into its logistics network over the next five years as the e-commerce company accelerates efforts to reduce emissions across its middle-mile and last-mile operations.
The deployment will be carried out in partnership with VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), the joint venture between Eicher Motors and Volvo Group. The companies said the electric trucks will support cargo movement between fulfilment centres, sortation hubs and delivery stations, as well as customer-facing delivery operations.
As part of the initial rollout, Amazon plans to induct 50 electric trucks in logistics hubs including Delhi, Manesar and Gurugram. The vehicles will be introduced progressively through Amazon’s transport service partners.
The trucks will be available in configurations ranging from 8-foot to 24-foot deck lengths, allowing Amazon to deploy them across varying payload requirements. According to the companies, the vehicles will include customised cargo layouts and support both fast and slow charging options depending on route and operational needs.
The move comes as India’s e-commerce and logistics sectors face increasing pressure to adopt lower-emission freight solutions amid tightening sustainability targets and rising fuel costs. Electrification of commercial fleets has gained momentum in urban delivery operations, though adoption in medium-duty and heavy-duty trucking remains at an early stage due to infrastructure and financing challenges.
Amazon has been steadily expanding its electric delivery fleet in India as part of its broader climate commitments. The company previously stated that it aimed to deploy 10,000 electric vehicles in the country by 2025 and had already crossed 6,000 EVs across more than 400 cities by 2023.
In 2024, Amazon said it had surpassed the 10,000-EV milestone in India ahead of schedule, while also testing long-haul electric freight corridors for intercity transportation.
Industry observers view the Eicher partnership as a significant step toward electrifying commercial freight movement in India, particularly in the growing e-commerce logistics segment where fleet utilisation levels are high and predictable delivery routes improve the feasibility of EV deployment.
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Humanoid’s warehouse robots now have a clearer path from pilot project to production line. UK robotics startup Humanoid has partnered with Bosch to scale production of its HMND 01 humanoid robots for the European market. This follows a successful proof of concept earlier this year. The agreement focuses on Humanoid’s effort to commercialize its robots for logistics and manufacturing. Bosch will serve as the company’s contract manufacturer. They will also assist with production planning, hardware design, supply chain operations, and cost optimization through what the companies call a Design for Excellence approach. This partnership follows testing in March at Bosch’s logistics facility in Bühl, Germany. There, Humanoid’s robots moved boxes autonomously from conveyor systems onto trolleys in a live workflow. Humanoid reports that the robots handled five different box sizes with varied weights and dimensions while adjusting to changing conditions. They also tested advanced scanning systems, multi-conveyor coordination, and flexible handling capabilities. Humanoid’s KinetIQ AI framework coordinated the warehouse operation and demonstrated that the robots could scale beyond experimental use. “For Humanoid, this agreement is a critical step in our roadmap, connecting the gap between proof of concept validation and large-scale deployment,” said Artem Sokolov, Founder and CEO of Humanoid. “Our goal has always been to shorten the path between innovation and real-world integration, and this agreement reflects that approach. Together with Bosch, a strong manufacturing partner, we aim to bring humanoid robots into industrial settings, expand their deployment, and speed up adoption in logistics, manufacturing, and beyond,” Sokolov added. Bosch views the partnership as part of its move into industrial robotics manufacturing. “This partnership is based on a shared belief in the great potential of robotics in industry,” said Peter Svejkovsky, Head of Corporate Intellectual Property. “Bosch’s goal is to advance humanoid robotics and further develop this field. With our global production network and deep expertise in industrialization, we are the ideal partner to transition from prototype to large-scale production.” Humanoid currently offers the HMND 01 in two versions: a bipedal humanoid and a larger wheeled mobile manipulator. The bipedal version stands 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 198 pounds, and can move at nearly 5 feet per second with a three-hour battery life. The wheeled model is larger at 7 feet 3 inches and weighs 661 pounds, with faster speeds and up to four hours of runtime. Both systems can carry payloads of up to 33 pounds while working in spaces designed for people. Humanoid states that the robots use KinetIQ, its four-layer AI platform for managing fleets of robots in industrial environments. This system oversees everything from fleet coordination and reasoning to movement control and handling tasks. The Bosch agreement comes shortly after Humanoid announced another major partnership with Schaeffler, which plans to use thousands of Humanoid’s wheeled robots in factories over the coming years. For more such news and updates, visit CARGOCONNECT.
Accio Robotics, a leader in warehouse fulfilment solutions, has partnered with US-based SCM Champs, specialists in SAP and supply chain consulting, to transform warehouse management through advanced robotics and seamless SAP integration. This strategic collaboration aims to optimise efficiency and productivity in warehouse operations globally. The partnership centres around Accio's AccioOS operating system, designed to integrate with mobile robots (AMRs), Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), and SAP warehouse management systems. By enabling real-time communication between these systems, the collaboration enhances order fulfilment, robot deployment, and picking efficiency, offering businesses an automated and streamlined warehouse solution. Pranav Srinivasan, Co-founder of Accio Robotics, expressed confidence in the partnership, saying, “The integration of AccioOS with SAP warehouse systems positions us as a global leader in warehouse automation.” SCM Champs' CEO, Prabhjot Singh, added, "Our expertise in SAP supply chain execution, coupled with Accio's robotics solutions, provides an unmatched level of automation and efficiency for clients." This partnership underscores the shared vision of Accio Robotics and SCM Champs to push the boundaries of warehouse automation and reshape supply chain management on a global scale.
Bar Code India (BCI) recently announced the launch of ‘Dristi,’ an innovative IoT-based RFID reader set to revolutionise the supply chain industry. Designed with best-in-class performance and advanced RFID capabilities, Dristi is engineered for diverse applications across manufacturing, distribution, transportation, and retail sectors. Equipped with a powerful processor, expansive memory capacity, and options for 4G-LTE/Wi-Fi, Dristi’s state-of-the-art design boasts a superior IP rating, making it suitable for the most demanding environments. Its standout feature, the inbuilt ‘read-to-cloud’ capability, allows organisations to access real-time data, enhancing precision and efficiency in supply chain management. The robust diecast aluminium housing with weatherproof sealing ensures Dristi’s durability and high uptime, even in challenging indoor and outdoor environments, including extreme heat, subzero temperatures, and dusty or damp conditions. Ajay Bhutani, Co-founder and CEO of BCI, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “As its name suggests, Dristi represents a leap forward in asset tracking, process control, industrial automation, and inventory management, offering businesses unparalleled efficiency and accuracy. This ‘Made in India’ innovation provides real-time visibility, faster read rates, and precise data capture, setting new standards for excellence in supply chain management.” Vikas Wadhwa, Chief Operating Officer at BCI, added, “Dristi is a personal and professional dream come true, a product of years of dedicated effort. BCI has consistently led the way in delivering innovative solutions that empower businesses with complete asset visibility and intelligence in their supply chain operations. In an era where efficiency, accuracy, and real-time insights are paramount, Dristi is poised to change the game.”
