Autonomous delivery robots developed by indiGOtech in Estonia are returning to the streets of Belgium, where one of the country’s largest retail groups, Colruyt Group, will deploy them as part of its Collect&Go home delivery service. The robots will serve residents in central Leuven from late May through August, offering grocery deliveries at a lower cost.
The robots were first introduced in Belgium in 2022 as part of a pilot project with Collect&Go. While earlier operations were limited to fixed routes and controlled environments, the robots will now operate in dense urban traffic without predefined routes.
“We are moving step by step from traditional vehicles to electric, and from there to autonomous solutions. Purpose-built, lightweight vehicles represent the future – offering lower energy consumption, reduced costs, faster charging, and a more city-friendly solution.”
Will Graylin, CEO of indiGOtech
This project is unique, as unmanned vehicles have not previously operated in this way within Belgian city traffic, moving alongside other vehicles rather than on sidewalks or in restricted areas. This confirms that innovation developed in Estonia is having an international impact on how urban logistics is organised.
Collect&Go launches autonomous delivery pilot to boost sustainable last‑mile logistics
Online grocery shopping is a key pillar for Colruyt Group. “In a rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape, we continuously look for ways to organise the last mile as efficiently and sustainably as possible. The cost of these final kilometres is high, and urban mobility presents challenges. Investing in innovation and creative solutions is crucial and part of Colruyt Group’s DNA,” Tom De Prater, director at Collect&Go, explains the motivation behind introducing unmanned vehicles in the city.
The company behind the delivery robots, formerly known as Clevon, has been operating on public roads for over five years in Estonia and internationally. Photo: IndiGOtech
Belgium’s Minister of Mobility, Jean-Luc Crucke, added: “Autonomous mobility is no longer a distant vision of the future. It is a transformation that is happening right now, and one that we must guide responsibly. My role as Minister is to create the conditions that allow this innovation to develop safely, while also steering it towards more sustainable and low-carbon mobility. That is exactly what we are working on today, both at the Belgian level and together with our European partners, to ensure that this transition becomes a collective success.”
In 2024 and 2026, IndiGO Europe secured €93 300 to develop autonomous delivery robots. The funding came in the form of a grant for Companies’ Research and Development Employees from the Estonian government, organised by Enterprise Estonia.
Estonia´s delivery robots signal industry transformation toward low‑energy vehicles
According to indiGOtech CEO Will Graylin, growing interest in delivery robots reflects the broader direction of the industry. “We are moving step by step from traditional vehicles to electric, and from there to autonomous solutions. Purpose-built, lightweight vehicles represent the future – offering lower energy consumption, reduced costs, faster charging, and a more city-friendly solution,” said Graylin.
“The cost of these final kilometres is high, and urban mobility presents challenges. Investing in innovation and creative solutions is crucial and part of Colruyt Group’s DNA.”
Tom De Prater, director at Collect&Go
The company behind the delivery robots, formerly known as Clevon, has been operating on public roads for over five years in Estonia and internationally. In Tallinn, the robots are already a familiar sight and have been used for parcel deliveries with partners such as DPD, DHL, and most recently, Omniva.
GOOD TO KNOW
- indiGOtech is a U.S.-based electric vehicle developer, with its European branch located in Tartu, Estonia, where it focuses on the development and testing of autonomous systems and electronics.
- The company’s electric vehicles are built on its SmartWheels™ technology, which integrates the motor and suspension directly into the wheels, enabling lighter, more spacious, and more efficient vehicles.
- In Europe, indiGOtech operates through indiGO Europe AS (formerly Clevon). The company is backed by FedEx, one of the world’s largest logistics providers, and Foxconn, a global electronics manufacturer.
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