Arnold NextG Blogspot: Autonomous Logistics in Transition

Global logistics is at a tipping point. A severe shortage of qualified drivers, rising efficiency demands, tightening climate goals, and rapidly growing urbanization are pushing conventional supply chains to their limits. At the same time, the demand for resilient, automated and sustainable transport solutions is growing—whether in last-mile delivery, industrial sites, airports or long-haul routes.

While many still discuss autonomy as a future vision, Arnold NextG is already delivering it. With Drive-by-Wire, vehicles become digitally controllable – safely, scalably, and certified.

Market Potential – Facts That Move the Industry

The business case for autonomous logistics is already compelling:

• 155 billion US-Dollar projected market size for last-mile delivery by 2030 (McKinsey, 2023)
• plus 24 percent CAGR in autonomous logistics vehicles (MarketsandMarkets, 2024)
• 40 percent of logistics costs come from last-mile delivery – a clear target for automation
• 1 in 4 industrial accidents is forklift-related (British Safety Council)
• EU Climate Goal by 2050: minus 90 percent emissions from transport (European Green Deal)

NX NextMotion – The Platform for Autonomous Mobility

The key to safe and scalable autonomous logistics is a control system that’s fail-operational and highly secure. Arnold NextG’s NX NextMotion provides exactly that: a modular, fully electronic architecture for steering, braking and acceleration – without any mechanical coupling.

Core Capabilities:

• Full Drive-by-Wire integration
• Certified to ASIL D, SIL 3, ISO 21434, UNECE R155
• Multi-redundant and fail-operational architecture
• Platform-independent – suitable for shuttles, delivery robots, forklifts, commercial vehicles
• OTA-ready, V2X-capable for future-proof integration

 One System – Three Applications

1. Rethinking the Last Mile
   Autonomous micro-shuttles and delivery bots can reduce emissions, ease congestion, and enable precision time-slot deliveries in urban areas.
   2. Off-Road, On-Point
   Industrial and airport logistics benefit from autonomous vehicles handling repetitive tasks—improving safety, uptime and operational predictability.
   3. Long-Haul Made Autonomous
   Drive-by-Wire systems enable autonomous highway corridors for trucks—offering huge potential for freight operators under pressure.

Why Now? The Timing Advantage

It’s no longer a question if autonomous logistics will happen – but how fast it can scale. The following drivers make a strong case for immediate investment:

• Talent shortage: Over 150,000 truck drivers projected to be missing in Germany alone by 2030
• Workplace safety: Autonomous systems reduce incidents in hazardous environments
• Sustainability: Electric powertrains, precision driving and route optimization reduce CO₂ emissions
• Competitive edge: Early adopters gain cost, efficiency, and technology leadership

A powerful new argument comes from the latest PAVE Europe White Paper, March 2025 (“The Case for Autonomous Vehicles in Goods Transportation and Logistics”): “The business case for autonomous goods vehicles is already viable—especially in industrial, last-mile and long-haul segments.”

Key insights from the study include:

• Up to 40 percent cost reduction in urban deliveries (McKinsey, cited in PAVE, 2025)
• 3 million+ unfilled driver positions globally (IRU, 2023)
• significant safety gains through sensor-based 360-degree-vision and AI logic
• Increased fuel efficiency via platooning and predictive driving patterns

NX NextMotion enables these advantages with a fully certified, multi-redundant Drive-by-Wire platform—positioning Arnold NextG as a strategic enabler for industrial-grade autonomy.

Coming Up: Our New Series “RETHINKING LOGISTICS”

Stay tuned as we explore the key drivers of autonomous logistics across five focus areas:

1. Last Mile, Maximum Impact – redefining urban delivery
2. Off-Road. On-Point. – autonomous mobility for industrial logistics
3. Long-Haul Reimagined – future-proof freight transport
4. Economy, Environment, Safety – the triple return on automation
5. Building Trust Through Technology – why Drive-by-Wire is foundational

We control what moves. Let’s shape the logistics of tomorrow – today.