The routing of electric vehicles is extremely critical to maximize miles due to range limitations. Go too far out of route and that vehicle may not make it back to the depot at the end of the day.
Arrival (NASDAQ: ARVL), which has burst onto the scene with its electric delivery vans, buses and soon-to-be-developed cars, has chosen HERE Technologies to solve that routing complexity.
“We are extremely proud to be partnering with Arrival on tackling the challenge of our times – zero-emissions transport. With HERE SDK (software development kit), Arrival can now offer their drivers a best-in-class routing experience. We look forward to helping Arrival realize its goal of making cities cleaner and deliveries faster,” said Knuth Sexauer, vice president for automotive at HERE Technologies.
Arrival will leverage HERE’s technology to power its in-vehicle Human-Machine Interface (HMI) navigation solution. The technology offers more than just turn-by-turn navigation, though, and Arrival will be able to add real-time visibility of vehicles and offline capabilities that include route calculation and location search.
“After a comprehensive benchmarking process, Arrival came to the conclusion that the navigation SDK from HERE is one of the best on the market. The quality of the location data coupled with the customization capabilities of the SDK means that HERE is the perfect partner for us. As a result, we’re delighted to provide drivers of Arrival vehicles with the best technology to do their jobs comfortably and efficiently,” said Valentin Anisimov, HMI system lead in technology at Arrival.
The HERE SDK also allows for the inclusion of private points of interest for drivers.
Arrival, founded in 2015, has exploded onto the scene with its unique microfactory approach and several big-name clients. The U.K.-based company announced earlier this year its second microfactory would be built in Charlotte, North Carolina. That facility will build vans to help fulfill a 10,000-unit order from United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS). Many of the vehicles produced at the Charlotte microfactory are expected to enter UPS’ North American and European fleets.
A microfactory in South Carolina will produce electric buses. Its first electric vehicles are expected to be delivered in Q4.
Earlier this month, Arrival and Uber (NYSE: UBER) announced an agreement that would see Arrival design and build electric cars specifically for ridesharing applications. It is Arrival’s first foray into automotive applications.
The Arrival Car (NASDAQ: ARVL) will prioritize driver comfort and safety, the company said, noting that a typical ride-hailing vehicle travels 27,000 to 31,000 miles per year. Arrival will collaborate with Uber drivers to ensure the design of the vehicle meets the needs of rideshare drivers. The car’s design is expected to be revealed before the end of this year.
Related:
Read: Arrival sets second US microfactory as public trading nears
Read: Cowen: Arrival’s unique approach sets up opportunity in EV space
“We are confident that electrifying ride-hailing vehicles will have an outsized impact on cities, and we are keen to support drivers as they manage this transition,” Tom Elvidge, senior vice president of Arrival Mobility UK, said in a statement. “Arrival Car will be designed around drivers’ needs to create a vehicle that is affordable, durable and desirable. We have a great partnership with UPS to create a best-in-class electric delivery vehicle, and we hope to replicate that success with Uber as we develop the best possible product for ride hailing that elevates the experience of the passenger and improves drivers’ health, safety and finances.”
Research firm Cowen has been impressed with Arrival’s manufacturing approach. In initiating coverage of the company in early April, Cowen said its microfactory approach was unique and would allow it to scale quickly.
“We are constructive on Arrival’s unique approach to electric vehicle production leveraging microfactories and vertical integration. The company’s technology and strong value proposition for short-haul commercial operators warrants a premium to other less vertically integrated competitors,” the Cowen report said.
Cowen placed an outperform rating on the company and set a price target of $28.50 per share. Shares of Arrival were trading in the mid-$18 range Wednesday morning.
Click for more Modern Shipper articles by Brian Straight.
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