Jungheinrich and Vector jointly develop new electronics platform for material handling
Joint platform designed to accelerate the development of software-defined forklift trucks and provide a scalable foundation for future product generations
Hamburg/Stuttgart – Jungheinrich and Vector are jointly developing a new electronics platform for future generations of connected and software-defined forklift trucks. The platform combines a modern E/E architecture with a modular, reusable embedded software platform as well as backend and cloud services. The aim is to consolidate previous individual solutions on a common, standardized technology foundation. This will enable new functions to be developed faster and integrated into vehicles more efficiently.
The electronics platform developed by Jungheinrich and Vector incorporates connected vehicle components integrated through a central control unit. The joint project covers key platform domains including communication, diagnostics, update and configuration management, functional safety, cybersecurity, and variant management. Continuous cloud connectivity also provides the foundation for functions such as remote diagnostics, over-the-air updates, fleet management, and data acquisition.
From individual solutions to a common platform
The new platform approach enables Jungheinrich to deploy software and functions across different vehicle types and generations and continuously evolve them over time. This will reduce development and integration effort and make new functionality available faster. Working in joint development teams, Jungheinrich and Vector combine extensive intralogistics expertise with many years of experience in developing safe and connected software-defined systems.
As part of the collaboration, Vector contributes technologies, products, and engineering expertise across the entire development process: from MICROSAR-based embedded software, architecture, integration, and virtual development environments to test solutions, CI/CD pipelines, scalable platform workflows, and cloud solutions. These capabilities are complemented by engineering services and expert consulting. In this way, Vector supports Jungheinrich end to end, from platform architecture through continuous integration and validation to deployment.
“The new platform gives us a common technology foundation on which we can develop vehicle functions faster and deploy them across different product lines,” says Dr. Stephan Lange, VP Electrics/Electronics at Jungheinrich. “Together with Vector, we are creating the conditions to integrate new functions efficiently into our vehicles and systematically advance the development of software-defined forklift trucks.”
“We are excited to work with Jungheinrich to advance the software-defined forklift truck,” states Dr. Matthias Traub, Managing Director and CTO of Vector. “Our collaboration combines Jungheinrich’s deep intralogistics expertise with our comprehensive capabilities in embedded software, platform solutions, electronics, cloud technologies, and development processes. For me, that is precisely where the strength of this collaboration lies: connecting the necessary building blocks across system boundaries to create an end-to-end technology foundation for future vehicle generations.”
Press contact Vector:
Cordula Gielen
Tel. +49 711 80670-2910
Email: cordula.gielen@vector.com
Vector press contacts worldwide and other press releases can be found at: www.vector.com/press
About Vector:
Vector is a leading ecosystem partner for software-defined systems. Vector unifies open platforms, AI-powered engineering workflows, tools, reference solutions, and services spanning the entire lifecycle. Manufacturers and suppliers in Automotive, MedTech, Aerospace, Industrial, Agriculture, and Railway rely on Vector to develop and operate intelligent software-defined systems faster and more safely, allowing them to focus on the capabilities that differentiate their products in the market. Customers use Vector's technologies and solutions to build their own ecosystem or extend existing ones with new capabilities. Moreover, Vector contributes its expertise to leading partner ecosystems and industry standards initiatives. The independent foundation-owned company, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, employs around 4,500 people worldwide and generated revenue of EUR 930 million in 2025.
