Cainiao Group scales up L4 unmanned vehicles
Cainiao Group is moving fast in logistics with its L4 unmanned vehicles. These autonomous couriers are now geared for wider use on public roads, taking on day?to?day deliveries that lift customer experience while keeping operations efficient and predictable.
A milestone: public-road delivery at scale
At the recent Cainiao Smart Global Logistics Summit, the company announced that its L4 autonomous vehicles are officially available for public sale. That’s a turning point. The vehicles are designed to run safely on public roads and to tighten the handoff between stations and pickup points, smoothing the last steps of the delivery chain.
What powers the vehicles
The fleet runs on Alibaba’s AutoDrive platform, pairing advanced safety capabilities with a full service and support stack. The result: vehicles that can handle delivery tasks with consistency while meeting safety requirements for public-road deployment.
Where they run today—and what that means
Right now, more than 20 Cainiao unmanned vehicles are handling last?mile work in a local deployment, delivering and collecting parcels with steady performance. It’s currently the largest fleet of its kind in that area and a key part of station operations, accounting for over 30% of total deliveries. Each vehicle processes at least 1,500 packages a day, helping staff focus on exceptions instead of routine runs.
A track record in unmanned delivery
Cainiao began investing in unmanned delivery in 2016 and has since completed over 40 million deliveries using these technologies. The impact has been clear: faster flows, lower costs for courier stations, and a repeatable model for everyday logistics that slots into existing operations.
What’s next for the industry
Looking ahead, Li Qiang, CTO of Cainiao Group, expects more than 200,000 unmanned vehicles to be in use across the logistics sector within the next three to five years. That scale should push technology forward and continue to bring costs down. Cainiao sees strong momentum for unmanned systems and aims to help accelerate industry change through advances in areas such as artificial intelligence and automation.
Beyond vehicles: the broader tech stack
Cainiao’s logistics technology team is also expanding its footprint beyond vehicles. It has launched over 400 projects across multiple countries, combining Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities, automation, and smart hardware. The goal is a complete toolset for logistics operations. The roadmap includes 1,000 digital projects worldwide and partnerships with 100 companies to upgrade logistics infrastructure end to end.
About Cainiao Group
Founded in 2013, Cainiao Group has quickly grown into a major force in global e?commerce logistics. Its mission is to improve the e?commerce experience worldwide through deep market insight and practical technology. In cross?border logistics, Cainiao is the leading service provider by parcel volume, serving more than 100,000 merchants and brands and reaching over 200 countries and regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cainiao Group focus on?
Cainiao Group focuses on e?commerce logistics, building systems that make deliveries smoother for merchants and shoppers while introducing practical, scalable innovations.
Which technologies power Cainiao’s unmanned vehicles?
The vehicles are built on Alibaba’s AutoDrive platform and include advanced safety features supported by a comprehensive service and support system for public?road operations.
How large is Cainiao’s current unmanned vehicle operation?
More than 20 vehicles are running in a local deployment, handling last?mile delivery and pickup. They account for over 30% of one station’s deliveries, with each vehicle servicing at least 1,500 packages daily.
What results has Cainiao achieved with unmanned delivery so far?
Since beginning work in 2016, Cainiao has completed over 40 million unmanned deliveries, improving efficiency and reducing operating costs at courier stations.
What projects and partnerships are on Cainiao’s roadmap?
Cainiao plans to deploy 1,000 digital projects globally within the next three years and to partner with 100 companies, building on more than 400 projects already launched across various countries.
