Australian EV Startup Receives $30M Investment to Advance Autonomous Vehicles

A Melbourne-based electric vehicle company is preparing to ramp up manufacturing after securing a $30.7 million investment aimed at supporting the development of driverless vehicles.

The funding comes from the National Reconstruction Fund and is expected to cover more than half of the company’s Series B capital raise. Officials say the investment could help bring autonomous vehicles into Australian production as early as this year.

Applied Electric Vehicles, the business behind the project, is working on compact robotic transport platforms known as Blanc Robots. Built using a Suzuki chassis alongside locally developed hardware and software, the vehicles are designed without traditional features such as seats or steering controls.

The financial support is set to accelerate manufacturing plans and allow the company to expand its workforce by about 25 employees, adding to its existing staff of more than 100.

This marks the National Reconstruction Fund’s first investment in the transport industry, one of several sectors identified as important for strengthening Australia’s manufacturing capability.

The Blanc Robot is intended primarily for industrial, logistics, and commercial environments. Businesses can attach specialised cabins to the platform, enabling the vehicles to operate in off-road settings or potentially hazardous areas where autonomous transport may improve safety.

In addition to automation, the vehicles are engineered for zero-emission operation, a feature expected to appeal to organisations focused on reducing environmental impact and could support export opportunities.

The funding round also includes investors such as Barrenjoey and Japan Post Capital. Company leadership says the backing will help scale production and expand autonomous mobility solutions internationally while leveraging Australia’s engineering expertise.

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Original Article Source: The Driven