Stellantis and UQI Unveil BOW Autonomous Electric Delivery Van Concept

Stellantis Pro and Chinese robotics company UQI have teamed up on the BOW concept, short for Box on Wheels, at the IAA Transportation commercial vehicle show in Hannover.

The companies describe BOW as an autonomous electric logistics concept designed to explore new possibilities for urban transportation. It is not a conventional production van, but rather a look at how cargo delivery could evolve in the near future.

The idea of cabless delivery vehicles roaming city streets has been familiar from science-fiction movies for years. This time, however, BOW is more than a static display. Alongside the show vehicle, Stellantis and UQI have set up a working demonstration version outside the main exhibition hall, allowing visitors to take a closer look at the concept.

What the BOW Was Designed For

Stellantis says vehicles like BOW could open up new possibilities in several areas. The concept is being considered not only for urban deliveries but also for use in enclosed or tightly controlled environments, where companies are increasingly looking to automate repetitive tasks.

The automaker says the vehicle could be used wherever cargo needs to be moved regularly along predictable routes. Potential applications include:

• Urban logistics and local deliveries
• Internal transportation at factories
• Hospital campus operations
• Airport infrastructure

Inside the BOW Concept

Few technical details have been released so far, but several elements of the design are immediately apparent. The front end features a large panel styled to resemble a windshield. A distinctive structure sits above it, closely resembling a LiDAR sensor module, which fits the vehicle's autonomous-driving mission.

The rear is equally focused on utility. A roll-up door provides access to the cargo compartment. Stellantis and UQI have not disclosed its exact capacity, but the layout suggests the vehicle can offer more usable space than a conventional van of similar dimensions. Without a separate driver's cab, space that would normally be occupied by the driver can instead be devoted to cargo.

This isn't UQI's first project in this area. The company already produces the Chitu Alpha logistics vehicle, which is equipped with LiDAR. That vehicle is aimed primarily at industrial applications, including warehouse logistics, deliveries and material sorting.

BOW was not the only new vehicle displayed at the show. The three-wheeled Fiat TRIS, designed for last-mile deliveries, also made its debut. The Stellantis display additionally featured more conventional commercial vehicles, including the Fiat eDUCATO Fridge, whose refrigeration system draws power directly from the electric van's high-voltage battery.