At the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas, USA, Suzuki and Applied EV have announced an exciting collaboration, transforming the Suzuki Jimny into a radically designed autonomous electric vehicle. This collaboration introduces the ‘6th Generation Blanc Robot’, a result of joint innovation between the two companies.
What makes this transformation radical is the use of the Suzuki Jimny chassis as the foundation for development, while the original Jimny body has been completely removed and replaced with a new, more minimalist design. Applied EV has transformed the Jimny into an autonomous electric platform that can be used for last-mile delivery and industrial operations such as in warehouses and mines.
The vehicle’s flatbed design is customizable for various needs, ranging from delivery vans to other applications. Julian Broadbent, CEO of Applied EV, explained that even though the vehicle is based on the Suzuki Jimny, this platform is extremely robust and capable of operating off-road, thanks to the proven durability of the Jimny chassis.
Suzuki and Applied EV have also planned to produce the first 100 units of the Blanc, with body structures manufactured in Japan and shipped to Australia to be combined with Applied EV’s autonomous technology. This collaboration brings a fresh breeze to the autonomous electric vehicle industry, even though Suzuki currently does not have plans to develop its own electric Jimny.
Instead, Suzuki is focusing on launching its first electric model, the e-Vitara, which was also introduced at CES 2025. This electric vehicle has already been marketed in India as of late 2024.
