While We Debate Teslas, China’s Already Hauling Freight with Driverless Trucks

China launches fleet of self-driving trucks in Freight Forwarding Sector. Shanghai has taken a major step toward commercializing autonomous transportation by issuing pilot licenses for four vehicle models to eight companies and five industry groups. Backed by million of miles of real-world testing and vast data sets, these vehicles are now considered ready for commercial deployment signaling a new chapter for smart mobility in China. 

At the forefront of this development in Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, which through its subsidiaries IM Motors and UTOPILOT, has become the first Chinese automaker to receive licenses for both passenger and commercial autonomous vehicles. IM Motors has already logged impressive achievements: its robo-taxi service has received more than 300,000 ride requests and driven millions of autonomous miles. One of its standout operations is a high-speed autonomous shuttle running between Shanghai Disneyland and Pudong International Airport, laying the groundwork for Level 4 autonomy. 

In the commercial sector, SAIC’s UTOPILOT has made history as the first in China approved to operate fully unmanned large cargo trucks. The vehicle has already autonomously handled over 500,000 twenty-foot equivalent units at Yangshan Port. 

Autonomous driving company Pony.ai has secured licenses to operate in all four of China’s tier one cities: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and now Shanghai. In partnership with Shanghai Jinjiang Group’s taxi division, Pony.ai is preparing to begin public testing in Pudong. WeRide, another key player, has also been granted permission to operate driverless robo-taxis on public roads in Pudong. Teaming up with Chery Automobile and Jinjiang Taxi, WeRide is now active in ten cities globally, including Abu Dhabi and Riyadh.