China Leads the Way in Autonomous Trucks

Beijing: China has taken a groundbreaking step in the transportation industry by advancing the development and deployment of driverless heavy-duty trucks, marking a significant leap in logistics automation.

A leading Chinese tech company, Inceptio Technology, is at the forefront of this transformation. Specialising in autonomous driving systems for heavy vehicles, the company has made notable progress in commercialising this futuristic concept.

In November 2023, Inceptio delivered 63 autonomous trucks to Yunyi Transport as part of a larger order of 300 vehicles. These trucks are built on the Tianlong model, developed in collaboration with Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle, and come equipped with Inceptio’s fully integrated autonomous driving system.

So far, Inceptio’s autonomous fleet has completed 60 million kilometres of accident-free commercial operations. This achievement has resulted in significant reductions in fuel costs and labour expenses, highlighting the technology’s efficiency and reliability.

In March 2025, China’s largest inland logistics hub, Guoyuan Port, launched a fleet of six smart autonomous new-energy trucks. These vehicles are equipped with cutting-edge features, including AI-powered cameras, LiDAR sensors, 5G antennas, and GNSS systems, enabling accurate navigation and efficient loading and unloading.

On average, these smart trucks handle around 200 TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) of cargo daily, contributing to a one-third reduction in labour costs at the port.