Lorenz Snacks is introducing four autonomous electric transport vehicles at its production facility in Neunburg vorm Wald, Bavaria, as part of a five-year logistics project with Swedish technology company Einride.
The cab-less vehicles will transport finished products, raw materials and empty pallets between production areas and the site’s central warehouse. Two conventional electric trucks will provide backup capacity if an autonomous vehicle becomes temporarily unavailable.
Lorenz describes the initiative as a long-term part of its logistics strategy, aimed at improving operational efficiency while reducing emissions from internal transport.
Autonomous Fleet to Move Up to 1,200 Pallets Daily
The vehicles, known as Einride eBots, are purpose-built electric transport units without conventional driving controls such as a steering wheel or accelerator pedal. Each has a loading capacity of 15 Euro pallets.
The partners expect the autonomous fleet to handle an average of up to 1,200 pallets per day, with higher volumes possible during peak periods. Individual transport routes are expected to take between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on operational requirements.
The vehicles will be charged using electricity generated by the photovoltaic system at the Lorenz facility. Their operations will be monitored by remote and on-site personnel, with authorised operators able to intervene when necessary.
Einride will supply the vehicles and manage their operations under a transportation service agreement. The vehicles will remain the Swedish company’s property.
Einride Software Coordinates Factory Transport
Transport operations will be managed through Einride’s Saga software platform, which coordinates scheduling and synchronises autonomous vehicle movements across the facility.
Lorenz says the project is intended to establish autonomous transport as a permanent part of its factory logistics rather than serve as a temporary technology trial.
Stefan Bender, head of logistics Germany at Lorenz, said the initiative focuses on practical improvements to the company’s operations.
With this project, we’re bringing a technology into industrial practice that is still widely discussed as a future scenario. For us, this isn’t about innovation for its own sake, but about making our logistics operations more digital and lower-emission, step by step. We’re not just testing autonomous mobility; we’re making it an integral, long-term part of our plant logistics.
Einride CTO Henrik Green said the partnership demonstrates how autonomous electric transport can be integrated into industrial operations.
The logistics concept also received the German Logistics Prize 2026 in October.
Einride Expands Autonomous Transport Projects in Germany
The Lorenz deployment adds to Einride’s activities in the German market. In September, the company announced plans to test an autonomous electric truck on public roads in Hesse in cooperation with Lidl, part of the Schwarz Group.
The pilot allows the truck to operate at a maximum speed of 25 km/h.
Lorenz, a family-owned business headquartered in Bavaria’s Schwandorf district, employs around 3,000 people and produces snack brands including Crunchips, Saltletts and NicNac’s. The company operates across the European snack market.