Daimler’s new business model for vans segment includes drones

Daimler AG said on Wednesday it would join with US startup Matternet to develop drones for its delivery vans and invest €500 million ($562 million) over the next five years in designing electric, networked vans.

The Mercedes-Benz Vision Van with dual drone delivery system.

Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz cars and trucks, has taken a minority stake in California-based Matternet as part of the partnership, a spokeswoman said.

“It is definitely coming”, Vornhinweg said.

“It is the first van worldwide to fully digitally connect all people and processes involved, from the distribution center to the consignee”, Mornhinweg said. For example, if an autonomous delivery van enters into a residential area where some goods need to be delivered.

Mercedes-Benz Vans believes the Vision Van could increase delivery efficiency by up to 50% on the last mile. A spokesman for Workhorse, which has developed drones that can navigate to a specified delivery point from a vehicle’s roof, said the USPS contract had not yet been decided.

The Vision Van in the images here is a study for a vehicle that would be all electric powered with a range of 270km per charge. Delivery in food industry, especially delivery within one hour has been gaining popularity in urban environments and this has been increasing demand for rapid transportation.

“This makes it easier for the deliverer to do business and rapidly reduces the delivery time for end customers”. It stresses that these requirements are to be met by faster and more efficiently in the future.

Mercedes-Benz Vans has created a new organizational unit called Future Transportation Systems, based in Stuttgart, Berlin and Silicon Valley with about 200 employees.

The Mercedes-Benz Vans will be offered through leasing, rental and ride-sharing options. The last aims to give intelligent networking that supplements the needs of commuting individuals via ridesharing concepts.