While You Were Sleeping, China’s Roads Were Taken Over by Robots

You might encounter a startling, almost ghostly sight on the streets of China late at night: small trucks speeding down the road, silently, with no one in the driver’s seat. These are the autonomous delivery vehicles of logistics giants like JD.com (China’s Amazon) and SF Express.

This isn’t a scene from a sci-fi movie. It’s today’s reality, unfolding on the roads of over 30 Chinese cities.

“So what if Chinese package delivery is getting a little faster?”

If this is your first thought, you might be missing the bigger picture. This isn’t just a “last-mile” delivery problem. It is the most vivid evidence of how a nation is using AI, robotics, and big data to redesign its entire logistics network—the very circulatory system of its society. For the rest of the world, this is a direct challenge to the future of supply chains and a signal of a new era in technological competition.

As an analyst on the ground, I see these “moving robots” every day. What follows is not just an observation diary. Based on public information, including JD’s L4 technology reports and official Chinese government policy documents, I will break down how this quiet revolution became a reality.

1. The ‘Ghosts’ on the Road: L4 Autonomous Driving is Already a Reality

The most shocking fact is that this is no longer a ‘test’ but a ‘commercial operation.’ At the heart of China’s logistics, it’s code and sensors, not people, that are doing the work. JD Logistics’ 6th generation autonomous delivery vehicle, the “Dulang 6.0,” is the symbol of this revolution.

• Overwhelming Technology: It has already crossed the threshold of Level 4 autonomous driving, meaning it can operate without human intervention in most road conditions. A suite of 3 LiDARs, 20 cameras, and 12 millimeter-wave radars provides a 360-degree, blind-spot-free view.
• AI-Powered Performance: Thanks to its “Perception Large Model,” its detection range is 19 times wider, and its recognition accuracy is 3 times better, according to the company. It can operate 24/7, even in adverse weather like heavy rain or fog.
• Real-World Achievements: It’s already in “normal operation” in about 30 cities, including Beijing and Guangzhou, having completed over 900,000 delivery orders and traveled more than 90,000 km.

2. The State as an Accelerator

Could such phenomenal progress be possible through corporate efforts alone? Not a chance. Behind this revolution lies the most powerful accelerator of all: the state.

• Declared a National Goal: The Chinese government has designated the commercialization of high-level autonomous driving as a national goal by 2025. It has already permitted public road testing and operation in over 30 cities.
• Rapid Legal Framework: The government isn’t just easing regulations; it’s establishing the necessary legal foundations for commercialization—such as rules on accident liability and national road management standards—at an unprecedented speed.

3. How They Built It: A Purpose-Driven Tech Ecosystem

So, how did JD make this massive project a reality? Their strategy can be summarized in one sentence: “Develop the core technology in-house, and build the rest with the best partners.”

In my view, JD’s secret to success lies in building a tech ecosystem optimized not for a “do-it-all autonomous car,” but for one clear goal: the ‘logistics robot.’

They formed a ‘dream team’ with the best specialists in each field. This includes NVIDIA’s powerful chips for AI computation, the major commercial vehicle manufacturer King Long for mass-producing the vehicle bodies, the specialized firm GS-Robot for cm-level high-precision mapping, and their logistics partner Deppon Express for real-world testing and data accumulation.

This purpose-driven strategy is both practical and powerful.

Conclusion: How Will Our Cities Change by 2028?

JD aims to have its autonomous delivery vehicles providing full coverage in the core areas of China’s tier-1 and tier-2 cities by 2028.

When this becomes a reality, logistics costs will drop dramatically, and delivery speeds will be maintained at their peak 24/7. Of course, this massive transition casts both light and shadow, bringing with it the unavoidable social challenge of redefining the role of human delivery drivers.

Ultimately, the autonomous logistics network will become the core “smart city infrastructure” that manages a city’s circulation. The quiet revolution happening on China’s roads while you sleep is not just about moving packages. It’s a preview of a future where technology, industry, and urban infrastructure merge under state direction—and it’s happening faster than we can imagine.