"With this pilot project, we are once again leading the way in Germany and setting another milestone in the digitalisation and automation of our processes," says Kai-Uwe Reimers, Head of Research & Innovation at REWE digital. "With our pilot vehicle, we want to test how highly automated vehicles can usefully complement our existing delivery processes.in doing so, we are leading the way in identifying, developing and implementing new technical possibilities. In order to take the right path early on, we are piloting and testing applications quickly and continuously adapting them as they are implemented."

In Bochum, the VW ID.Buzz can be recognised by the branding of the REWE delivery service. This is because the pilot vehicle is integrated into the existing REWE delivery service infrastructure. The routes are planned manually and controlled via the REWE e-commerce systems.

Nothing changes for customers: orders are placed as usual via the REWE delivery service, while delivery to the front door is carried out by the safety driver, who sits in the cockpit during the journey so that he can intervene if necessary.this is the first time that a highly automated vehicle has been used in real-life operation in the food retail sector in Germany.

as a partner, LOXO is responsible for the software and operation of the vehicle (in Bochum, this is level 4 - highly automated driving*).at this level, a vehicle can complete journeys on certain routes independently and may also drive without a safety officer on board. In Bochum, however, there will always be a safety officer in the cockpit.lOXO's Digital Driver software will be used in Bochum. Among other things, it combines advanced AI with state-of-the-art sensors that enable faster data processing so that vehicles can drive fully automatically on public roads

The ID Buzz at full speed. I Photo: Achim Bachhausen The project in Bochum serves as a realistic test run to gain experience with self-driving delivery vehicles in urban areas and to further develop the technology - always taking into account the highest safety standards.the REWE Lieferservice fulfilment centre - due to open in 2022 - is located in the west of the city of Bochum.the residential areas to be supplied are located in the immediate vicinity and the vehicle will then drive itself to them.

^{* There are 5 levels on the road to autonomous driving.at level 4, a vehicle can drive autonomously in certain environments or situations.with the law on autonomous driving, which came into force on 28 July 2021, Germany has created the legal framework that enables the use of driverless vehicles (level 4) on public roads - locally limited in a so-called defined operating area - beyond pure testing. At level 5, a vehicle can drive autonomously in any situation - without human intervention}