Bern-based software pioneer Loxo developed an autonomous delivery van based on the VW ID. Buzz, named Mathilde. It now operates self-driving on public roads in Switzerland.
They’re moving fast: Lara Amini, Amin Amini, and Claudio Panizza founded their startup Loxo in 2021. Today, the company is among Europe’s most exciting logistics pioneers, working with partners such as Planzer, Amag, and Migros.
Loxo first made headlines in 2023 with the Loxo Alpha, Switzerland’s first fully automated vehicle. It transported goods between Migros in the Mall of Switzerland and the Schindler Campus in Ebikon — always under the watchful eyes of the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). The positive results paved the way for the next chapter: Mathilde, a converted VW ID. Buzz that now roams the streets of Bern on her own.
The project became reality thanks to Loxo’s close collaboration with Planzer, a long-established logistics company known for embracing innovation. As early as 2014, Planzer was among the first in Switzerland to put an electric truck into operation. For Nils Planzer, this pilot project is the logical next step: «Together with Loxo, we want to lay the foundation for sustainable, data-driven urban logistics.»
But how does a young startup achieve what even tech giants have not – securing an exemption for highly automated operation on Swiss public roads? During our visit to Bern, we asked co-founder Lara Amini exactly that. «Certification is always the biggest challenge in such projects,» she explains.
That’s where Loxo’s expertise comes into play. The team has deep knowledge of European safety standards. Claudio contributes his experience as a safety engineer, while Amin brings his background as co-founder of CertX and co-author of ISO safety standards and Swiss regulations for highly automated driving. According to Lara, the cooperation with ASTRA has been «open-minded yet consistently goal-oriented.»
Since her maiden voyage in September 2024, Mathilde has become an integral part of Bern’s inner-city logistics. Every day, the ID. Buzz transports swap boxes filled with parcels from the Planzer rail hub on Murtenstrasse to various transfer points downtown.
There, the boxes – developed together with Kyburz – are transferred to electric trikes and delivered by Planzer’s drivers directly to customers’ doors. The result: near-zero-emission parcel delivery.
But Mathilde also benefits Planzer’s drivers. With less time spent on shuttling goods, they can focus more on customer interaction – something the family-owned company values highly.
