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One of the UK’s leading providers of transport technology solutions has reported a 34% increase in revenue, with ten of its autonomous vehicles now operating across the world. Aurrigo International plc, which employs more than 110 people at its Advanced Engineering Centre in Coventry and across technical offices in Canada, the US and Singapore, has seen sales for its last financial year hit £8.9m, This has been boosted by several commercial agreements with airports to deploy its digital simulation platform Auto-Sim® and its Auto-DollyTug® electric vehicle for moving luggage and cargo around terminals
Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug® airside in Europe.
Aurrigo’s latest innovation Auto-Cargo.
Growth in its autonomous division (up 433%) was the real highlight of 2024 and this was supported by another strong performance in automotive, where the company continues to supply precision components and wiring harnesses to a host of car makers and tier 1s. The encouraging results provide the perfect platform for the firm to drive ongoing technology development, with a focus on expanding its footprint in aviation and to help airlines, airport and ground handling operators achieve improved efficiencies, better environmental performance and, importantly, an enhanced customer experience.
David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International, commented: “2024 was another year of real progress, supported by significant revenue growth in our autonomous division. Awareness around the benefits of autonomous technology across airside operations is growing rapidly, helping to support our progress and the long-term outlook for the business.
“Both our product and commercial teams have worked tirelessly this year to expand our customer base and improve and broaden our product range. With first mover advantage, a growing range of proof points and industry support, our go-to-market capability is stronger than ever.”
Aurrigo International has continued to make good progress in the new financial year, with Aviation Solutions B.V the latest deal to be announced. This has seen Auto-DollyTug® and Auto-Sim® formally approved to be marketed across its network of 60+ airports. Testing and validation are already underway at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and the focus now moves towards commercialising this proven technology to airports worldwide.
April also saw the global unveiling of Auto-Cargo® in Coventry. This is the company’s largest ever autonomous vehicle and can carry a total payload of 16,500kg, using precision automation, advanced obstacle detection, and real-time fleet coordination to optimise on-the-ground performance. Backed by funding from Innovate UK and CCAV, the new vehicle’s next stop is to move heavy cargo loads to and from aircraft at UPS’ hub at East Midlands Airport, the UK’s second largest cargo terminal.
David concluded: “Aurrigo has first-mover advantage in intelligent Ground Support Equipment (iGSE) and, when you combine this with our expansive technology offering and proof point delivery at seven airports globally, we are in an ideal position to capitalise on this emerging market opportunity.”
For further information, please visit www.aurrigo.com or follow the company across its social media channels.
Notice of Investor Presentation
David Keene, Chief Executive Officer, will host a presentation and Q&A relating to the Company’s results at 11:00am on Wednesday 21 May 2025. The presentation will enable existing and prospective investors the opportunity to listen to management discuss the Group’s full year results. Questions can be submitted pre-event via the Investor Meet Company dashboard up until 9:00am the day before the meeting or at any time during the live presentation.
Aurrigo International plc is an international designer and developer of fully integrated smart airside solutions for the aviation industry, including automated vehicles, systems and software.
The Group’s proprietary, award-winning autonomous technology and secure management system is supporting some of the world’s leading airports. Customers choose to partner with Aurrigo to transform their baggage and cargo handling operations, improving safety, operational efficiencies and meeting sustainability targets, while navigating growing passenger volumes, rising costs and increasing labour shortages.
Headquartered in Coventry, UK with offices in Singapore, Cincinnati and Ottawa, the Group has a 32+ year heritage designing and supplying automotive vehicle OEM’s with highly advanced, innovative product and system solutions.
For more information, please visit the Group’s website at www.aurrigo.com.
Royal Schiphol Group in collaboration with KLM is deploying a new self-driving baggage vehicle from Aurrigo International plc to help it optimise the separation of passenger baggage with long transfer times.
On an average day, Schiphol handles around 31,000 pieces of baggage from transferring passengers. Most of this luggage is processed in the morning, putting pressure on the baggage system and handling operations. KLM Baggage Services, together with Schiphol, ensures that all baggage reaches the right connection on time.
To transport baggage streams more efficiently, Schiphol is testing an electric, self-driving baggage vehicle supplied by Aurrigo. This autonomous vehicle transports luggage from passengers with long layovers from the aircraft to a temporary, secured storage location.
The first phase of the all-electric Auto-DollyTug® trial began in August last year, testing the route from the temporary baggage storage area to a secured storage location. At the appropriate time the autonomous vehicle then delivers the baggage to the baggage hall, where it can be entered into the system and further processed to the connecting fleet. During this time, the vehicle mapped the platform environment using 3D cameras and learned how to navigate independently. Step-by-step, various aspects were trialled, such as autonomously picking up and dropping off containers and maneuvering through the busy baggage hall.
Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug airside at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
“Schiphol is committed to creating a more sustainable, emission-free ground operation. We are replacing our entire vehicle fleet with a connected network of autonomous, emission-free vehicles. By doing so we automate all related processes. Even in an autonomous ground operation, employees will continue to play a crucial role, with their work becoming more varied and supervisory.” commented Jan Zekveld, Senior Manager Innovation at Royal Schiphol Group.
The latest testing involves Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug® operating on the pier, where it must navigate denser traffic. If this is successful, the test routes will be expanded, and eventually, the vehicle will be tested at aircraft stands by the end of 2025. The autonomous vehicle is equipped with LiDAR sensors and 360-degree cameras, enabling it to navigate safely among other traffic, brake in time, and maintain sufficient distance. For safety purposes, an Operator will always be present in the vehicle during the trial to intervene if necessary.
Professor David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International plc, commented: “Working with forward-thinking partners like Schiphol and KLM to bring autonomous solutions to real-world aviation challenges is very exciting. “The work we are doing demonstrates a fantastic use case for our self-driving Auto-DollyTug®, showcasing how automation can enhance efficiency while supporting the workload for baggage handlers and easing pressure on airport systems. We’re proud to support Schiphol’s vision for a smarter, more sustainable future in ground operations.”
Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug on apron with KLM airplane taxing.
For further information, please visit www.aurrigo.com or follow the company across its social media channels.
Coventry-based autonomous vehicle technology firm Aurrigo International – which works with airports across the globe – is upbeat after a “strong trading year” and fundraising which it described as a “potentially transformational moment”.
Aurrigo’s technology is in deployment in six airports across the world, with the company in early-stage conversations with another 34 airports and 19 airlines
“A strong trading year was complemented even further with a share placing raise of £5.25m to finish 2024 – a potentially transformational moment for our business,” said chief executive David Keene. “The new investment will give us the cash injection required to scale-up production of our Auto-DollyTug, an all-electric autonomous vehicle designed to transform baggage and cargo handling operations at airports through improved safety, operational efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.”
Chief executive David Keene (image credit: Aurrigo International)
The cash injection will allow the platform to have 22 tugs in operation in 2025, potentially accelerate commercial sales timelines and enable the ‘go live’ moment with Auto-Cargo in partnership with UPS.
Keene said there will also be six live Auto-Sim contracts at international airports in the same period, which will “help new and existing clients build digital twins of activity so they can optimise performance”.
He added that Coventry “will continue to be the epicentre of advanced design and manufacture”. with the group expecting to “bolster the team here and in some of our international locations in the US, Canada and Singapore”.
“After 40 years of very few ground handling innovations, the aviation sector now appears to be ready for something new and we are already proving – airside – that our Auto-DollyTug vehicle and our Auto-Sim software can deliver cost savings, environmental improvements and a better passenger experience,” said Keene. “We fully expect airlines and airports to accelerate their determination to embrace what we are calling the move to ‘intelligent ground support equipment’ (iGSE)”.
The Auto-DollyTug (image credit: Aurrigo International)
