One of the UK’s driving forces in autonomous vehicles has been named in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2025. Prof David Keene, the founder of Aurrigo International plc, has been awarded an MBE for his services to the ‘decarbonisation of airports’, marking over 40 years of experience working in the automotive sector and developing driverless technology and intelligent mobility in aviation.
The Warwickshire-based entrepreneur was recognised for the way he has pioneered one of the most significant innovations the aviation world has seen in four decades with the launch of Auto-DollyTug ® – an autonomous vehicle that is moving luggage and cargo around six airports across the world.
Designed, developed and built at the firm’s Advanced Engineering Centre in Coventry, the electric powered tugs are promising to cut emissions, increase operational performance and, most importantly, improve passenger experience.
The MBE comes just a few weeks after Aurrigo International secured its largest agreement to date, entering into a strategic partnership with Swissport to launch at Zurich Airport and then explore future implementation at other locations.
“When you’ve been in business for four decades, nothing tends to surprise you…until this!” commented Professor Keene MBE. “Aurrigo has come a long way since I started the business in my spare room in 1993. Whilst automotive components (mainly wiring looms and electronics) are still a major part of the business, it is our ‘first to market’ work in autonomous aviation vehicles that is catching the media headlines.”
David concluded: “We are building something really exciting in the UK that positions us as a real driving force in the world of autonomous vehicles for aviation. As we grow through Auto-DollyTug ® , Auto-Sim ® (simulation software for replicating airport activity) and Auto-Cargo ® (our largest vehicle yet), we are going to need more people with the right skills and talent to take us to the next level.
“That’s why it is important that we are vocal about the careers available in manufacturing and technology, showcasing the global opportunities they deliver.”
(Pic: Aurrigo)
