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PARIS, March 31, 2026 – The X-HUB consortium today announces that its eXtra-HUB Autonomous Logistics Platform project has entered a major phase of validation under real industrial operating conditions. Operating at the DHL Supply Chain site in Mitry-Mory, France, the X-HUB project is developing an end-to-end autonomous transport platform for logistics yards. It automates not only the trucks themselves but also the associated manual tasks and operational tools required for the day-to-day management, coordination, and supervision of yard operations.

A major illustration of French innovation

Funded by the Agence Nationale de Recherche (ANR) as part of the France 2030 initiative, X-HUB focuses on the industrialisation and large-scale deployment of environmentally responsible, autonomous, and connected vehicles tailored to logistics yard operations.

The consortium brings together nine leaders in industry and research: Avairx, DHL Supply Chain, Elonroad, ex9, the Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), Neotrucks, Orange, Outsight and the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM).

“The X-HUB project is a testament to the strength of French and European innovation in the global race toward autonomous logistics,” says Pr. Abdeljalil Abbas-Turki, Professor at the Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard and X-HUB project lead. “By bringing together leaders in research and industry, we have moved beyond theoretical models to demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous technology in a live, high-pressure environment. Our focus now is on ensuring this system is reliable, robust, operationally manageable and ready for broader deployment, positioning France as a leader in the transition to autonomous transport.”

Beyond moving trailers: toward an intelligent logistics yard

The recent progress at DHL’s Mitry-Mory site marks a shift from simple automation to a fully integrated and autonomous operational process. The consortium has successfully built a new operational flow that integrates:

• Digital twin technology: ex9’s digital replica of the DHL yard enables accurate mapping, planning, and simulation in a virtual environment. Orange adds a real-time dimension by collecting data from partners, providing 3D visualization of the status of IoT devices, and issuing security alerts. IMT Mines Albi contributes task scheduling, simulation result generation, and real-time replanning, collectively reducing risk before real-world deployment.
• Connected infrastructure: integration of Outsight’s Lidar-based Physical AI Infrastructure and Orange’s V2X platform enables seamless communication between ex9’s driverless trucks and the central control room.
• Operational control and safety: the successful completion of demanding anti-collision and remote-supervision test scenarios demonstrates the system’s ability to react in real time to protect both people and operations.
• Circular, clean, and autonomous vehicles: together, NEOTRUCKS, ex9 and Elonroad are showing how legacy trucks can be transformed into clean, electric, and autonomous vehicles for the logistics yards of tomorrow.

“Our partnership with UTBM and DHL allowed us to initiate X-HUB with a clear goal: to move beyond simple automation,” says Enzo Salvatore, CTO of ex9 and the project’s operational lead. “This goes far beyond the automated movement of trailers. The ambition is to create a logistics yard capable of integrating operational uncertainties and responding to them in real time. Our objective is to strengthen both human safety and operational fluidity, while addressing the structural challenges facing the sector.”

Solving the Logistics Deadlock

By validating these technologies in a live environment, X-HUB is tackling four key pain points in modern yard logistics:

• Driver shortages: Automating repetitive yard moves frees up human drivers for higher-value tasks.
• Safety: Advanced sensor fusion and V2X communication significantly reduce the risk of on-site accidents.
• Operational fluidity: Real-time data prevents the bottlenecks and congestion that often plague traditional yards.
• Environmental impact: Using retrofitted electric trucks repurposed through circular economy principles helps sites meet aggressive decarbonisation targets.

Meet the Team at SITL and Global Industrie

The X-HUB consortium will be showcasing the project at two major events in Paris this month.

● Global Industrie, 30 March – 2 April 2026

● SITL, 31 March – 2 April 2026

About the Partners

Avairx

A strategic consulting firm specialising in innovative transport systems, Avairx supports the consortium on deployment strategy and the future scaling of autonomous mobility.

DHL Supply Chain

A global leader in contract logistics, DHL Supply Chain helps companies simplify and transform their logistics operations through its multi-sector expertise, advanced technologies, and commitment to sustainability. DHL Supply Chain hosts the X-HUB pilot site in Mitry-Mory.

ex9
ex9 transforms traditional manual shuttling into fully autonomous operations for large industrial and logistics sites. Our full-stack solution includes driverless trucks, an intelligent autopilot system, and a management and monitoring platform, deployed as a service.

Elonroad

Elonroad provides advanced charging infrastructure, including ground-based charging systems that allow the fleet to recharge automatically while parked or moving.

NEOTRUCKS

NEOTRUCKS helps manufacturers decarbonise their supply chains by developing a range of material handling vehicles in partnership with Renault Trucks. NEOTRUCKS reuses, transforms, and retrofits diesel-powered heavy goods vehicles into 100% electric logistics vehicles, part of the circular economy.

IMT Mines Albi (Institut Mines-Télécom)

A major public institution for engineering and digital research, IMT Mines Albi supports the project through its expertise in smart manufacturing, discrete optimisation and digital transformation.

Orange

A global telecommunications leader, Orange provides the 5G connectivity infrastructure and V2X platforms required for real-time fleet management and remote safety monitoring.

Outsight

Outsight develops a LiDAR-based Physical AI Software Platform. This technology allows X-HUB trucks to perceive their surroundings in high definition to ensure safe movement.

UTBM (Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard)

A leading French engineering school, UTBM provides the project coordination and research expertise for the project, focusing on robotics, autonomous navigation, and energy optimisation.