A first network of driverless routes has been launched at the Detsky Mir logistics site in Naro-Fominsk, Moscow Region. In the future the Group plans to scale up its autonomous logistics operations in partnership with Evocargo.

The project will ensure uninterrupted and safe cargo transportation at the Naro-Fominsk distribution center and will also significantly speed up product delivery to customers across all of the Group’s retail companies: the Detsky Mir and Zoozavr chains, as well as the Yeshche chain of discount stores. The Evocargo N1 vehicle, implemented at Naro-Fominsk, has payload capacity of two tons and is powered by an electric battery that enables 24/7 operation, offering greater cost efficiency compared to conventional truck transport with drivers.

Evocargo’s robotic trucks are fully developed in Russia and have been put into service by large companies in many industrial sectors in recent years. The vehicles “see” and “sense” their surroundings thanks to an integrated perception system that includes cameras, lidars, and other sensors. In place of a traditional driver’s cab, the N1 truck has a powerful computing module where artificial intelligence algorithms process sensor data, predict the movement of surrounding objects, and plan safe routes for the vehicle.

Detsky Mir Group is one of Russia’s leading retail companies and the market leader in children’s goods across Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. The Group operates an online platform and marketplace and manages more than 1900 stores, including the children’s goods chains Detsky Mir and Detmir Mini, as well as the pet goods chain Zoozavr and the multi-category discount chain Yeshche. The Group’s gross merchandise value for 2024 was 255 billion rubles, and the number of loyal customers exceeds 24.5 million.