Aptiv has struck a partnership with Vecna Robotics to develop a new generation of autonomous mobile robots, as industrial groups step up investment in automation to cut costs and address labour constraints in warehouses and factories.
The collaboration will combine Aptiv’s perception, computing, and embedded software technologies with Vecna Robotics’ autonomy and workflow orchestration platform. The companies said the joint effort is aimed at delivering safer and more cost-effective automation that can be deployed at scale across industrial environments.
Aptiv, the Switzerland-based Industrial Technology Group best known for its automotive and industrial systems, will integrate its sensing hardware and machine-learning capabilities into Vecna Robotics’ autonomous material handling solutions. Vecna Robotics, based in Waltham, Massachusetts, specialises in AI-driven robots designed to operate alongside people and conventional equipment.
Javed Khan, Executive Vice President, Intelligent Systems, at Aptiv, said automation was reshaping logistics operations by enabling machines that can sense, analyse, and act in real time. He said the partnership would make advanced automation more accessible by combining Aptiv’s perception and software expertise with Vecna Robotics’ experience in autonomous material handling.
Under the agreement, Aptiv’s PULSE sensor, which combines surround-view cameras with short-range radar, will provide 360-degree perception for robots operating in busy industrial settings. Machine-learning systems developed by Aptiv will support real-time perception and dynamic path planning, while Vecna Robotics’ platform will manage autonomy, navigation, and the coordination of workflows between robots, people, forklifts, and other automated systems.
The combined system is designed to operate safely in mixed-traffic environments and to improve throughput without requiring significant changes to existing warehouse or factory infrastructure. The companies said this approach could help customers achieve faster returns on investment while reducing operational disruption.
Karl Iagnemma, Chief Executive Officer of Vecna Robotics, said the partnership would enable the company to deliver more robust and cost-optimised robotic products. He added that combining Vecna’s AI-driven autonomy with Aptiv’s perception and compute technologies would help customers modernise operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs without major capital expenditure.
As part of the collaboration, Aptiv plans to showcase Vecna Robotics’ CPJ Co-Bot Pallet Jack at its pavilion at CES 2026, highlighting the application of the joint technology in material handling.
The partnership underscores a broader push by industrial technology providers to move beyond standalone robots towards integrated automation systems that can be scaled across complex operations, as companies seek productivity gains amid rising labour and energy costs.
