Perrone Robotics’ patented TONY Autonomous Vehicle (AV) kit has been proven across 40+ different vehicle platform styles and is currently actively deployed across the U.S. The TONY AV kit has been incorporated in designs from the factory and is also outfitted in vehicles offered as turn key AV solutions. We’ve proven our technology under endeavors with premier brand vehicle OEMs, mid-small scale OEMs, and tier one suppliers alike. 

Working with OEMs and tier one suppliers for from the factory installs has been an important facet of our growth strategy. And our TONY AV kit has been designed for and proven in such integrations. This is important for being able to scale to 100s, 1000s, and more vehicle fleets. Nevertheless, before such fleets are ordered, many customers want to see the AV technology operating at a more affordable scale. Our partnership with an organization like Roush Industries gives us the ability to leverage enterprise class vehicle manufacturing talent for professional outfitting of vehicles at scalable and affordable vehicle quantities using our ready to install TONY AV kit into any vehicle platform. This not only offers a practical and economical path to scale, but also allows customers to choose the vehicle platform of choice with our proven vehicle agnostic TONY AV kit.

Key benefits of leveraging the TONY AV kit early before wide scale rollout include:

• Customization and Flexibility: Retrofitted vehicles offer unparalleled customization options. Unlike vehicles factory-fitted now, which are produced on a standard production line, retrofitted vehicles can be tailored to meet specific requirements and preferences, allowing for more innovative solutions.

• Cost-Effectiveness: Retrofitting often represents a more cost-effective solution than purchasing new factory-fitted vehicles in low quantity. This is especially relevant for smaller organizations or those with budget constraints. Retrofitting allows for the upgrading of existing vehicles, thereby saving the cost of purchasing entirely new fleets.

• Speed of Deployment: Retrofitted vehicles can often be deployed more quickly than waiting for new factory-fitted vehicles. This is crucial in situations where there is a critical need for upgraded transport solutions, where organizations face time-sensitive challenges, or where organizations want to prove the technology at a smaller scale before large scale committments.

• Preserving Existing Fleet Value: Retrofitting allows organizations to preserve the value of their existing fleet. Instead of discarding older vehicles, retrofitting enables these vehicles to be updated with the latest technology, thereby extending their useful life and return on investment.

• Adaptability to Changing Technologies: As technological advancements occur rapidly, retrofitting offers the flexibility to adapt existing vehicles to the latest technologies, rather than being tied to the technology available at the time of a factory-fit. In the autonomy space, this is particularly true where the pace of change and evolution of sensor and EV battery technologies are concerned.

• Sustainability and Environmental Impact: Retrofitting contributes to environmental sustainability. By upgrading existing vehicles, retrofitting reduces the need for manufacturing new vehicles, thus lowering the environmental impact associated with vehicle production, including resource consumption and emissions.

These are some key considerations to make when considering whether or not to undertake a professionally outfitted or factory-built solution. Regardless, at Perrone Robotics, through our existing and growing OEM relationships, and by way of our partnership with professional outfitters, we offer customers a choice now between vehicle agnostic outfitting with turn key AV solutions, or large fleets of OEM-equipped AVs.

Contact us to learn more and grow your organization’s ability to achieve a practical and safe AV deployment approach.