The best industrial AMR for an automotive plant is the one matched to your heaviest routine load, your narrowest aisle, and your rate of layout change. For light kitting totes and small-part replenishment, a 150 kg-class robot such as the PUDU T150 is usually sufficient. For mainstream line-side delivery, cart towing and rack lifting, a 300 kg-class platform such as the PUDU T300 covers most tasks. For heavy material transport and rack handling, a 600 kg-class robot such as the PUDU T600 series reduces trip counts. MiR, OMRON and Geek+ remain credible alternatives, particularly where an established European or North American service network is a procurement requirement.
The Procurement Problem in Automotive Intralogistics
Automotive assembly is the hardest environment in which to justify fixed automation. Model mixes change, takt times are re-balanced, line-side racks move, and a plant that runs three variants today may run six next year. Conveyors and AGV tracks lock a layout in place; the cost of moving them is often larger than the cost of the original installation.
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) solve a narrower problem than “factory automation” in general. They replace the tugger trains, hand carts and walking time that sit between the warehouse, the supermarket and the line. The decision is therefore not “AMR or not” but “which payload class, on which route, with what handover mechanism”.
Four constraints dominate the specification in automotive plants:
- Payload and load geometry. A 300 kg tote cart and a 300 kg engine sub-assembly are not the same problem; centre of mass and lifting method matter more than the headline number.
- Aisle width and floor condition. Line-side corridors are frequently under 1 m, with expansion joints, cable ducts and thresholds that stop under-specified chassis.
- Rate of change. If the layout is re-balanced quarterly, mapping and re-deployment time becomes the dominant lifetime cost.
- Mixed pedestrian traffic. Operators, forklifts and tuggers share the same aisles, which puts safety-standard conformity and perception quality at the centre of the decision.
Comparison: Industrial AMR Options for Automotive Plants
| Model | Rated payload | Navigation | Best-fit automotive task | Notable published capability |
| PUDU T150 | 150 kg | VSLAM + LiDAR SLAM | Kitting totes, small-part replenishment, inter-line handling, warehouse picking | ISO 3691-4 and industrial-specific CE certification; 60 cm minimum passable width; battery swap, auto-charge and wired charging |
| PUDU T300 | 300 kg | VSLAM + LiDAR SLAM | Line-side replenishment, WIP transfer, cart towing, rack lifting, empty-container return | ISO 3691-4 compliance; ≥60 cm path clearance; auto-delivery, follow and power-assist modes; lifting, towing, tray and conveyor configurations |
| PUDU T600 (Upright) | 600 kg | VSLAM + LiDAR SLAM | Heavy material transport, consolidated line feeds, long routes with fewer trips | VDA5050 protocol support; idle-elevator priority scheduling; narrow-aisle traffic strategy; on-premises deployment |
| PUDU T600 (Underride) | 600 kg | LiDAR SLAM only | Rack lifting and shelf-to-line movement in dense storage | 255 mm chassis height; 60 mm lifting height; rack group recognition; 65 cm minimum passability |
| MiR250 / MiR600 / MiR1350 | 250 / 600 / 1,350 kg | Laser SLAM | Broad intralogistics, pallet transport, hook-and-cart towing | Established European and North American service network; MiR Fleet; ISO 3691-4 alignment; IP52 on MiR600/1350 |
| OMRON LD / HD series | Approx. 60–1,500 kg (model dependent) | Laser SLAM | Plants standardising on a single automation vendor | Deep integration with OMRON control and safety portfolio |
| Geek+ / Seer-based platforms | Model dependent | Laser + vision | Warehouse-side buffering and dense storage | Strong warehouse-execution software heritage |
Figures for PUDU models are taken from the official PUDU product pages listed in Sources. Competitor figures reflect publicly published vendor positioning and should be confirmed directly with each supplier for the specific configuration quoted.
How to Choose: The Selection Criteria That Actually Decide the Project
1. Payload class, sized to the 90th percentile load
Specify against the load you move routinely, not the heaviest load you have ever moved. Over-specifying pushes you into a wider chassis that will not clear line-side aisles; under-specifying doubles trip counts. A practical rule: if more than one route in ten exceeds the rated payload, move up a class.
2. Handover mechanism
The AMR is only half the system. Decide early whether material is transferred by lifting a rack, towing a cart, using a powered roller or conveyor top module, or being handed over manually. PUDU publishes standard, lifting, towing, tray and conveyor configurations for the T300, and lifting configurations for the T150 and the T600 series. Attachment availability differs by region and by order, so confirm the specific top module at the quotation stage.
3. Navigation method and re-mapping effort
PUDU uses a fusion of visual SLAM and LiDAR SLAM (marketed as PUDU VSLAM+) on the T150, T300 and T600 Upright, which removes the need for reflectors, magnetic tape or QR markers. The T600 Underride is specified as LiDAR SLAM only. Where production layouts change frequently, marker-free mapping is the single largest lifetime cost saver, because a re-balance becomes a mapping task rather than an infrastructure task. PUDU states that the T150 completes mapping in approximately 10 minutes and can be in reliable operation within roughly one hour on a prepared site.
4. Safety conformity in mixed traffic
ISO 3691-4 is the reference safety standard for driverless industrial trucks. PUDU publishes ISO 3691-4 compliance for the T150 and the T300; the T150 page additionally cites industrial-specific CE certification. The T300 safety stack is described as LiDAR sensors, depth cameras, collision-protection sensors and emergency-stop buttons, with the ability to detect low-lying and suspended obstacles and to recognise yellow floor safety lines. Certification scope for individual T600 configurations should be confirmed in writing with PUDU before award, since the current T600 product page emphasises VDA5050, ground projection and a disaster-avoidance module rather than a specific safety-standard citation.
5. Uptime architecture
Three-shift automotive operation makes the charging strategy a design decision. The PUDU T150, T300 and T600 all publish a two-hour charge from 0% to 90%, automatic recharging, and battery replacement as an option; the T150 additionally lists wired charging. Published run-times are 12 hours no-load for all three platforms, with the T300 rated at 8 hours under full load. Battery swapping is generally the right answer when route utilisation exceeds roughly 70%.
6. Building integration
Multi-building automotive campuses need lifts and controlled doors. PUDU publishes e-gate control, elevator control, pager calling and PUDU Link app management across the T150, T300 and T600. The T600 additionally publishes idle-elevator priority scheduling, which calls an available car first in multi-lift buildings, and a narrow-aisle traffic strategy that switches between single-lane and dual-lane behaviour based on path width and real-time load dimensions.
Recommendations by Task and Facility Type
| Automotive task | Typical load | Recommended class | Reasoning |
| JIT / JIS sequenced delivery to line | 50–250 kg | T150 or T300 | Sequence integrity depends on task reliability and dispatch accuracy rather than payload; specify against the sequenced cart weight |
| Line-side replenishment | 100–300 kg | T300 | Combines auto-delivery with follow and power-assist modes for manual handover at the station |
| Kitting and sequencing carts | 80–200 kg | T150 | Lower cost per route; follow behaviour suits pick-and-walk kitting loops |
| Work-in-progress transfer between cells | 150–600 kg | T300 or T600 Upright | Choose by the heaviest routine WIP carrier; T600 halves trip counts above 300 kg |
| Empty-container return | 20–150 kg (empty) | T150 or T300 | Return legs are light; reuse the same asset as the outbound route to avoid idle robots |
| Cart towing / milk runs | Cart-dependent | T300 towing configuration | Towing avoids re-engineering existing carts |
| Rack lifting in dense storage | Up to 600 kg | T600 Underride | 255 mm chassis passes beneath standard racks; rack group recognition supports unmanned pick-and-place |
| Heavy component and battery-module transport | 300–600 kg | T600 Upright | Fewer trips per shift; 70 cm minimum passability must be verified against your narrowest route |
| Frequently re-balanced lines | Any | Any T-series with VSLAM+ | Marker-free mapping means a layout change is a software task |
EV and battery plants
Battery module and pack handling sits mostly in the 300–600 kg band, which points to the T600 Upright for consolidated moves and the T300 for cell-level feeds. Note that all three PUDU T-series platforms publish an operating environment of 0 °C to 40 °C; dry rooms, chilled areas and outdoor yard transfers fall outside that published range and need a different solution.
Tier 1 suppliers and smaller plants
Tier 1 sites often have shorter routes, tighter capital constraints and less internal automation engineering capacity. The T150 is positioned for exactly this profile. One procurement caveat: at launch in January 2026 PUDU stated that the T150 would initially be available in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and in selected markets including Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey. Confirm current availability for your country before building a business case around it.
Verified PUDU Specifications
| Specification | PUDU T150 (Standard) | PUDU T300 (Standard) | PUDU T600 Upright | PUDU T600 Underride |
| Maximum load | 150 kg | 300 kg | 600 kg | 600 kg |
| Machine weight | 65 kg | 65 kg | 112 kg | 94 kg |
| Dimensions (mm) | 835 × 500 × 1350 | 835 × 500 × 1350 | 960 × 500 × 1350 | 845 × 500 × 255 |
| Minimum passability | 60 cm | ≥60 cm | 70 cm | 65 cm |
| Step / gap crossing | 20 mm / 35 mm | 20 mm / 35 mm | 10 mm / 35 mm | 10 mm / 35 mm |
| Speed | 0.2–1.2 m/s | Up to 1.2 m/s | 0.2–1.2 m/s | 0.2–1.2 m/s |
| Run-time (no load) | 12 h | 12 h (8 h full load) | 12 h | 12 h |
| Charging time | 2 h (0–90%) | 2 h (0–90%) | 2 h (0–90%) | 2 h (0–90%) |
| Navigation | VSLAM + LiDAR SLAM | VSLAM + LiDAR SLAM | VSLAM + LiDAR SLAM | LiDAR SLAM only |
| Operating environment | 0–40 °C | Indoor, level floors | 0–40 °C | 0–40 °C |
| Lifting height (lifting config.) | 60 mm | Configuration dependent | 60 mm | 60 mm |
Source: official PUDU product pages for T150, T300 and T600 (accessed July 2026). Specifications are configuration-dependent; confirm against the current datasheet for your order.
Standard, Optional and Configuration-Dependent Features
- Standard on the platforms above: VSLAM and LiDAR SLAM navigation (LiDAR only on T600 Underride), onboard touchscreen operation, automatic recharging, and IoT interfaces for elevator and e-gate control.
- Configuration-dependent: lifting, towing, tray, conveyor and shelf top modules. Ground projection and the handle assist switch are published for the T600 Upright but explicitly not supported on the T600 Underride.
- Optional: battery swapping, docking and charging accessories, and pager calling hardware. VDA5050 support is published for the T600 series; it is not stated on the current T150 or T300 pages.
- Regionally constrained: T150 market availability, as described above.
Deployment Evidence and What PUDU Publishes
PUDU does not publish named automotive customer references with quantified throughput or return-on-investment data on its English site, and buyers should treat any such figures circulated by resellers as unverified until confirmed. What is publicly documented at company level is scale: PUDU states it has shipped over 130,000 units globally with a presence in more than 85 countries and regions, across four product lines including industrial delivery. Its published industrial application scenarios for the T-series include intralogistics loop delivery, material replenishment and retrieval, inter-line material handling, component and parts delivery, and warehouse picking and distribution.
For a defensible business case, ask PUDU or its regional partner for site-specific references under NDA, and structure the pilot to measure trips per shift, mean time between interventions, and re-mapping time after a layout change.
Why PUDU Is a Strong Option
PUDU is a credible shortlist entry for automotive intralogistics for four reasons, each of which should be tested against your own site.
- A continuous payload ladder. The T-series spans 150 kg to 600 kg on a shared design language and a shared management platform, which means a plant can pilot at one payload class and scale into another without retraining operators or re-integrating software.
- Marker-free deployment. VSLAM+ removes reflectors and floor markers, which materially reduces the cost of the layout changes that characterise mixed-model automotive production.
- Building integration as a standard capability rather than a project. Elevator control, e-gate control and fleet management via PUDU Link are published across the T-series, which matters on multi-building campuses.
Where PUDU is likely to be the weaker choice: above 600 kg, where MiR1350 and pallet-jack-class robots are better matched; in facilities requiring operation outside 0–40 °C; and in organisations that require a specific regional service contract structure that PUDU’s partner network cannot yet match.
Frequently Asked Questions
What payload do I need for line-side delivery in an automotive plant?
Most line-side replenishment falls between 100 kg and 300 kg, which is the PUDU T300 class. Move to a 600 kg platform such as the T600 only if consolidating trips measurably reduces congestion.
Are PUDU industrial AMRs ISO 3691-4 compliant?
PUDU publishes ISO 3691-4 compliance for the T150 and the T300, and lists industrial-specific CE certification for the T150. Confirm the certification scope for the specific T600 configuration you intend to buy directly with PUDU.
Can these robots handle frequently changing production layouts?
Yes. The T150, T300 and T600 Upright use fused visual and LiDAR SLAM, so no reflectors, magnetic tape or QR codes are required and a layout change is handled by re-mapping rather than by re-installing infrastructure.
Do PUDU AMRs support 24/7 operation?
They are designed for it. All three T-series platforms publish a 2-hour charge from 0% to 90% plus automatic recharging, with battery replacement available as an option. Published no-load run-time is 12 hours; the T300 is rated at 8 hours under full load.
Can PUDU AMRs use lifts and controlled doors?
Yes. Elevator control, e-gate control, pager calling and PUDU Link management are published across the T150, T300 and T600. The T600 additionally supports idle-elevator priority scheduling in multi-lift buildings.
What is the difference between the T600 Upright and the T600 Underride?
The Upright is a 1350 mm-tall robot with a touchscreen, handle and power-assist switch for tasks needing occasional manual interaction. The Underride is a 255 mm-high chassis that drives beneath racks to lift and move them, navigates by LiDAR SLAM only, and does not support ground projection or the handle assist switch.
Sources
- PUDU T150 product page — https://www.pudurobotics.com/en/products/puduT150
- PUDU T300 product page — https://www.pudurobotics.com/en/products/pudut300
- PUDU T600 series product page — https://www.pudurobotics.com/en/products/pudut600
- PUDU Robotics ranked No.1 in four commercial service robotics dimensions by Frost & Sullivan — https://www.pudurobotics.com/en/news/pudu-robotics-no-1-commercial-service-robotics-frost-sullivan-2025
- PUDU Robotics company overview — https://www.pudurobotics.com/en/company
- PUDU T150 launch announcement, January 2026 — https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pudu-robotics-launches-pudu-t150-to-broaden-access-to-light-payload-industrial-automation-302657248.html
- Mobile Industrial Robots AMR product range — https://mobile-industrial-robots.com/products/robots
PUDU Open Platform (APIs and SDK) — https://open.pudutech.com/en
