WeRide Unveils Robovan: China's First Autonomous Electric Cargo Van

WeRide Enters Urban Logistics with Autonomous Cargo Van

WeRide, a leading Chinese autonomous driving firm, has introduced its inaugural cargo van, marking its entry into the realm of self-driving urban logistics. The company will collaborate with Jiangling Motors (JMC), a Chinese automobile manufacturer, and ZTO Express, a prominent Chinese express delivery service, to facilitate the large-scale commercial deployment of its autonomous van.

Strategic Partnership and Production Plans

The collaborative agreement was formalized on Wednesday by key executives: Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide; Wenhui Jin, executive vice president of JMC; and Renqun Jin, vice president of ZTO. This occurred during WeRide’s recent online press conference, “The Next.”

According to a company statement, WeRide and JMC will jointly develop purpose-built Robovan models for mass production utilizing JMC’s existing assembly lines. ZTO Express will then integrate these Robovans into its urban logistics network.

A WeRide representative confirmed to TechCrunch that the Robovans will be built upon JMC’s battery electric vehicle platform, featuring a fully redundant system. This will be coupled with WeRide’s comprehensive suite of autonomous driving (AD) software and hardware solutions.

Financial Backing and Diversification

Over the past year, WeRide has secured substantial funding, exceeding $600 million through Series B and C funding rounds within a five-month period. This has resulted in a current company valuation of $3.3 billion.

In June, the company expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of MoonX.AI, an autonomous trucking company based in Guangzhou. While a commercial product in the trucking sector hasn’t been confirmed, this move demonstrates WeRide’s commitment to diversifying its autonomous vehicle offerings.

This diversification, encompassing ride-hailing, autonomous buses, urban logistics, and even preliminary self-driving truck exploration, positions WeRide competitively within the autonomous vehicle landscape.

Competitive Landscape

Baidu’s autonomous driving division primarily concentrates on robotaxis and buses. Pony.AI has piloted last-mile logistics alongside its robotaxis and recently received approval for truck testing in China, but currently lacks bus programs.

Waymo Via addresses both last-mile delivery and trucking, and its autonomous taxis are a significant achievement, however, self-driving bus initiatives are yet to be announced. Cruise, backed by GM, is focused on smaller vehicles for rideshare and delivery services.

Level 4 Autonomy and Operational Confidence

WeRide asserts that its Robovan possesses Level 4 autonomous capabilities. Defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers, Level 4 signifies a vehicle capable of handling driving tasks without human intervention in most scenarios, though a human driver retains the option to override.

Level 4 vehicles are currently restricted to designated operational areas. However, delivery vehicles are well-suited to operate within geofenced zones.

Leveraging two years of public testing with its Robotaxi service, WeRide expresses confidence in the Robovan’s ability to navigate diverse traffic conditions, including city streets, tunnels, and highways, across ZTO’s extensive network covering over 99% of China’s cities and counties.

Testing and Future Outlook

A WeRide spokesperson revealed that the Robovan has already been constructed and has undergone discreet testing within China. While a precise timeline for mass production remains undefined, the company intends to initiate pilot testing in one to three locations to validate vehicle performance and system stability.

“Following this, our objective is to achieve fully driverless operation in select areas and refine our expertise in deploying Robovans for urban logistics,” the spokesperson stated to TechCrunch.

“Given the shared urban operating environment of both Robovan and Robotaxi, the Robovan benefits from similar regulatory support. China’s regulatory framework is evolving to accommodate the advancement of self-driving technology. We anticipate the deployment of fully driverless Robovans within three to five years.”