Aurrigo raises £14.1m to scale autonomous baggage and cargo vehicles at airports worldwide
September 5, 2025
Automated ground service equipment (GSE) is moving from the testbed to the tarmac, with UK-based Aurrigo International raising £14.1 million to scale up production of its autonomous airport vehicles. The funding, led by Next Gen Mobility alongside new and existing investors, marks a pivotal step in bringing intelligent GSE to airports worldwide.
The investment will allow Aurrigo to expand its Coventry engineering and manufacturing base, recruit beyond its current 110-strong workforce, and deliver demonstrator fleets to airports already trialling its technology. Seven airports are currently engaged with Aurrigo projects, positioning the firm as one of the leaders in a fast-developing market.
Aurrigo expands automated GSE portfolio with baggage and cargo vehicles
Aurrigo’s suite of solutions is designed to tackle multiple airside challenges:
- Auto-DollyTug – a hybrid dolly and tug that autonomously handles baggage.
- Auto-Shuttle – for passenger transfers across airport campuses.
- Auto-Cargo – the company’s largest vehicle yet, aimed at freight operations.
Together, these platforms offer a vision of a fully automated ramp environment, reducing reliance on manual labour at a time when the industry continues to face staff shortages.
Professor David Keene MBE, CEO of Aurrigo, said the funding will provide “firepower to expand operations and team, as we focus on the successful launch and go-to-market of our leading autonomous solutions for aviation.”
He added that Aurrigo is also exploring offshore manufacturing in South and Southeast Asia to accelerate entry into growth markets. Alongside airport projects, Next Gen Mobility could open doors to UK initiatives around autonomous pods and rapid passenger transport systems.
Swissport trials automated ground service equipment at Zurich Airport
The company’s profile has surged thanks to a global pilot programme with Swissport at Zurich Airport.
The initiative will combine Auto-Sim, Aurrigo’s digital simulation platform, with live deployment of the Auto-DollyTug, a baggage-handling vehicle designed to move autonomously around the ramp. The trial is intended to prove how ‘intelligent GSE’ can increase efficiency, safety, and sustainability in airside operations.
Swissport has stated its ambition to pioneer automation in ground handling, and Zurich will serve as a testbed for a potential wider rollout across its global network. If successful, the project could set a new standard for how airlines and handlers approach ramp operations.
Why automated ground service equipment matters for airports
The timing reflects a wider trend: airports and ground handlers are under increasing pressure to boost efficiency, cut emissions, and cope with unpredictable labour supply.
Feedback from both Aurrigo’s clients and users of other automated ground service equipment (GSE) consistently underscores tangible gains in safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability. Emerging deployments have revealed several key benefits:
- Improved safety: Automated systems with intelligent obstacle detection and collision-avoidance technology significantly reduce the risk of accidents on the ramp. These systems enable smoother, more precise approaches and stronger situational awareness for operators.
- Enhanced efficiency and turnaround: Automation streamlines operations—handling baggage, aligning cargo, and manoeuvring vehicles with greater consistency. This reduces turnaround times and eases congested areas, especially during peak periods.
- Lower operational costs and downtime: By simplifying controls and incorporating remote monitoring, automated GSE adds predictability and resilience to ground operations—minimising breakdowns and helping airports better manage staffing pressures.
- Environmental benefits: Electric automated GSE demonstrably lowers carbon emissions and noise pollution, improving airfield working conditions and supporting airport sustainability goals. Electrically powered alternatives can cut CO₂ emissions by around 48% compared with traditional fossil-fuelled equipment under similar operational profiles.
Aurrigo’s airport partnerships already span several continents. In addition to its headline collaboration with Swissport at Zurich, the company has deployed its autonomous ground service equipment at Changi Airport in Singapore, where Auto-DollyTug trials have been used to explore efficiency gains in one of the world’s busiest hubs.
In the United States, Aurrigo has partnered with IAG at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, while in Europe, it has worked with Amsterdam Schiphol.
UK trials are also advancing at Teesside International and East Midlands airports, the latter hosting the new Auto-Cargo under the government-backed “Ramp Ready” programme.
