Perrone Robotics and Local Motors have signed an OEM agreement to develop next-generation autonomous vehicles by integrating Perrone’s autonomous vehicle technology into a Local Motors shuttle called Olli.
Under the agreement, the two specialists seek to improve mobility options across the transit and transportation value chain, while enhancing the end-user experience. The Olli will be launched with Perrone’s Tony AV technology in autumn this year. Perrone will now also be the software vendor for the autonomous shuttle.
Through the collaboration, Perrone will provide company expertise in AV robotic technology development and deployment and will integrate its Tony retrofit kit across the Olli vehicle line. The goal is to enable deployments across customer use cases on public and private roads where fully autonomous capability at posted speeds is required. Local Motors will support the integration, testing, deployment and mass production of the Olli AV. Upon completion, scaled delivery and deployment of Olli vehicles will be handled by both companies as they look to introduce Perrone’s technology into the US and international markets.
“This new OEM agreement is an important step in expanding our current customer base while enhancing the vehicle experience for passengers,” commented Vikrant Aggarwal, president of Local Motors. “Our ability to meet evolving customer needs depends on our ability to work with partners with proven track records and the ability to scale. Our work with Perrone Robotics is another example of Local Motors’ open strategy of evaluating innovations in the market and integrating the best technology into Olli.”
“Local Motors’ Olli vehicle line represents a novel approach to autonomous people movement in a visionary, futuristic platform that can be micro-manufactured at scale today,” stated Paul Perrone, founder and CEO of Perrone Robotics. “We’re excited to work with Local Motors to provide our fully autonomous AV technology in Olli vehicles direct from the factory. Out of the gate, the new Tony AV-driven Olli offers a reliable full autonomy solution operating at posted roadway speeds in a safety-certifiable