Cainiao Group is deploying its latest L4 autonomous vehicles to facilitate parcel deliveries between delivery stations and pickup stations on public roads.
Equipped with the AutoDrive platform developed by Alibaba’s team, these vehicles, designed primarily for commercial use at delivery stations, feature a comprehensive service support system to ensure safe operation on public roads and have secured road rights in multiple locations across China.
In Hangzhou’s Yuhang district, a fleet of over 20 Cainiao unmanned vehicles is currently handling last-mile deliveries. This is the largest fleet of its kind at a single station, managing package deliveries to hubs and collections from customers. These vehicles now cover more than 30% of the station’s deliveries, with each one handling at least 1,500 packages daily.
Li Qiang, CTO of Cainiao Group, said, “In the next three to five years, we expect over 200,000 unmanned vehicles to be deployed in the logistics industry, which will drive further technological advancements and cost reductions across the sector. Cainiao is optimistic about the unmanned vehicle market and aims to promote the growth and transformation of the logistics industry through advancements in intelligence, AI applications, autonomous driving and automation.”
In addition to its unmanned delivery vehicles, Cainiao’s logistics technology division has launched over 400 digital projects across more than 20 countries, providing a comprehensive suite of logistics technology solutions that include IoT, automation, digital supply chains, RFID readers and smart hardware. The company aims to roll out 1,000 digital projects globally and partner with 100 companies over the next three years.