COVENTRY, UK, Oct 14, 2025 – David Keene, founder of Aurrigo, has received his MBE from Prince William for his role to the ‘decarbonization of airports’. The honor marks more than 40 years in the automotive industry and highlights his leadership in developing intelligent mobility systems.
Keene founded Aurrigo’s Auto-DollyTug and Auto-Cargo – the two vehicles moving luggage and cargo across seven airports worldwide – ushering in a new phase of sustainable airport operations.
“It was a fantastic experience visiting Windsor Castle with my family and then celebrating after with friends and colleagues who have made the journey possible,” explained David, who formed the business with his brother Graham in 1993.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to receive an MBE and the feedback from everyone has been overwhelming. For me, the award is all about the people in our company, the people who are designing the vehicles, breaking barriers with our technology and, importantly implementing them on the ground at airports all over the world.”
He continued: “The response has been huge – from people in my local pub, to business contacts I haven’t spoken to for years. I think it just goes to show how well regarded the honors program is with people, not just in the UK but around the world.”
Designed, developed and built at the firm’s engineering center in Coventry, the electric powered Auto-DollyTugs reduce emissions, increase operational performance and improve passenger experience.
The MBE follows Aurrigo International’s largest agreement to date – a partnership with Swissport to deploy its vehicles at Zurich Airport. The company raised £14.1 million to accelerate growth. The funding will help Aurrigo expand its manufacturing capacity, hire additional staff, and develop new demonstrator vehicles for customers. Aurrigo is also considering relocating its operations within Coventry and scale production to meet the requirements of the seven airports it currently works with.
David concluded: “The MBE is a major milestone in our collective journey, and I’ll definitely use the honor to open new doors for our business as we take our technology across the globe.
“The UK is still a hotbed of engineering and manufacturing innovation and, if Aurrigo can play a small role in making aviation greener whilst improving the passenger experience, then that will be a perfect legacy for what we’re trying to achieve.”
Source: Aurrigo
About Aurrigo International
Aurrigo International plc, headquartered in Coventry, UK, is a technology-driven company specializing in autonomous and automated solutions for the aviation and automotive industries. Established as part of the RDM Group, it has been in business for over 30 years, developing airside ground handling systems, baggage transportation and autonomous vehicle solutions. Aurrigo serves major airports, airlines, logistics providers, and automotive manufacturers, focusing on efficiency and sustainability through automation. Aurrigo has expanded globally, working with clients across North America, Europe, and Asia. As of recent financial reports, its annual revenue exceeds £10M, with continuous growth driven by demand for innovative mobility solutions.