FairPrice Group and Pokka trial driverless delivery vehicle
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FairPrice Group plans to roll out autonomous vehicle deliveries to more suppliers if the current pilot proves successful.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
- FairPrice Group trials autonomous vehicles (AVs) with Pokka, transporting goods along a 6km route between their warehouses since 25 February.
- The Zelos Technology AV can carry up to 1.5 tonnes and travels at 30-40kmh, monitored by a safety operator.
- FairPrice aims to expand AV use to more suppliers to improve efficiency, reduce costs, tackle manpower shortages and cut CO2 emissions.
AI generated
SINGAPORE - FairPrice Group is trying out the use of an autonomous vehicle (AV) to move goods from beverage supplier Pokka to FairPrice’s distribution centre.
Since the six-week trial began on Feb 25, the vehicle has been travelling a 6km loop between Pokka’s warehouse in Benoi Crescent and FairPrice Group’s distribution centre in Joo Koon Circle, both companies announced on April 2.
The AV, which is owned by FairPrice, moves at between 30kmh and 40kmh on the designated route and is instructed by a warehouse operator using a smartphone app.
In addition to this AV, FairPrice has six other similar vehicles, which transport goods between its distribution centres.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) in October 2025 approved FairPrice’s use of AVs for routes between its distribution centres.
FairPrice Group, which operates the FairPrice supermarket chain, said the AVs make more than 100 trips a week, each carrying up to 1.5 tonnes of ambient, or non-refrigerated, produce, packaged products and other essentials.
The same type of AV, which is supplied by Zelos Technology from China, is used in the latest trial with Pokka.
A purpose-built autonomous pod about the size of a typical family car, the AV can carry up to three pallets weighing up to 1.5 tonnes in total. This is more than the usual 800kg to one tonne managed by smaller electric vans, but less than the 22 pallets that a conventional diesel-powered container truck can manage.
After completing the route, which covers a range of driving conditions on public roads, including having to filter across lanes and cross traffic junctions, the AV parks itself at an open area near a loading bay at Pokka’s facility. A forklift operator then loads up the pallets.
As it lacks a steering wheel or cabin for a human operator, the AV is followed by a safety operator in a van who can intervene remotely if needed.
The operator also notes how the vehicle behaves on the road, interacts with other road users and tackles hazards like road works. The information is fed to the AV’s developer to refine the software as required.
Data is also given to LTA, which approved the route used.
When the trial is completed later in April and upon LTA’s approval, the safety vehicle will be removed. FairPrice Group will then use only AVs to transport goods from Pokka’s warehouse.
If the trial is successful, FairPrice Group could eventually expand the use of such vehicles to more of its suppliers. This will improve efficiency, tackle rising logistics costs and ease manpower challenges.
A purpose-built autonomous pod about the size of a typical family car, the vehicle can carry up to three pallets weighing up to 1.5 tonnes in total.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
The FairPrice spokesman did not comment on the cost of the project but said there have been some observable benefits to using AVs, even at this relatively early stage of deployment. Drivers are freed up for higher-value and longer-distance deliveries, for instance, while the AVs handle the more routine, short trips.
He said that compared with existing combustion engine delivery trucks, each electric AV reduces annual CO2 emissions by 27 tonnes. This comes on top of the reduction in manpower requirements, adding: “This is especially impactful amid an ongoing manpower crunch for transport operators.”
