Lorenz deploys four autonomous electric trucks at Neunburg vorm Wald plant
German snack maker Lorenz has put four cab-less, fully electric autonomous vehicles from Sweden's Einride to work moving finished goods, raw materials and empty pallets inside its Neunburg vorm Wald plant. The five-year project, presented on 4 Nov 2026, targets up to 1,200 pallets a day and replaces diesel in-plant transport.
Why it matters
Internal pallet moves between production lines and the central warehouse are a constant labor and fuel cost at chip and snack plants. Lorenz has set this up as permanent operation rather than a trial, with Einride owning and running the vehicles under a transport contract, which gives other processors a working model to watch. Running on the plant's own solar power also cuts Scope 3 emissions reported by retail customers.
Lorenz Snacks, whose range includes potato chips under the Crunchips brand, has started running autonomous in-plant logistics with Swedish technology company Einride at its site in Neunburg vorm Wald, Germany. The two companies first showed the system to invited guests at the plant on 4 Nov 2026, according to a Lorenz press release.
What does the fleet do?
Four electric Einride vehicles without a driver cab carry finished goods, raw materials and empty pallets on the private factory grounds, shuttling between production and the central warehouse. Einride's Saga software plans and coordinates the runs. Remote and on-site operators monitor the system. Two conventional battery-electric trucks act as backup if one of the autonomous units is out of service.
How much does it move?
Lorenz expects the vehicles to handle up to 1,200 pallets a day on average, with more at peak times. Each trip carries 15 pallets, and a round takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on plant operations.
How is it set up?
The project runs for five years and is planned as a permanent operating solution, not a short test. The vehicles stay Einride's property and are operated by Einride under a transport contract. They replace diesel vehicles previously used for in-plant transport and are charged from the plant's photovoltaic system. Lorenz says the switch cuts CO2 emissions in transport between production and storage on site, which also counts toward its partners' Scope 3 figures.
The logistics concept behind the project, called PATHFINDER, took third place at the German Logistics Award 2026 in Oct 2026. Lorenz is a family-owned company with about 3,000 employees.
Key numbers
Sources
- Lorenz bringt autonome Logistik ins Werk: Partnerschaft mit Einride startet in Deutschland · Lorenz Snacks (company announcement)
- Lorenz bringt autonome Logistik ins Werk · Lorenz Snacks (company announcement)