China’s Heavy Trucks Go Smart: Autonomous Driving Push
China’s heavy truck industry is making significant strides toward large-scale autonomous driving, with smart driving technology already deployed across mines, ports, factories, and logistics parks nationwide. According to Xinhua News, China leads the world with 2,108 autonomous transport trucks in operation as of mid-2025, out of a global total of 3,832 — cementing its position as the global leader in commercial autonomous vehicle deployment.
A Massive Market in Transition
China completed 43.29 billion tons of road freight in 2025, making it one of the world’s largest road freight markets. This vast logistics network, supported by millions of long-haul truck drivers, is now at the forefront of a technological transformation that promises to reshape the industry from the ground up.
Smart driving technology is being deployed across two primary application scenarios. The first is highway logistics, where driver-assist systems help reduce fatigue on long hauls. The second encompasses ports, mines, and logistics parks, where vehicles operate fully autonomously for transport and shunting operations.
Real-World Impact on the Ground
At a test track in Xi’an’s Gaoling District, a 4-meter-tall, multi-ton electric smart heavy truck from Shaanxi Auto (陕汽控股) demonstrates the technology in action. As reported by Xinhua, the vehicle starts silently, its display showing lane markings, surrounding vehicles, and obstacles in real time. The steering wheel turns on its own as the truck navigates obstacles and adjusts its trajectory through curves.
Shaanxi Auto, a top-500 Chinese enterprise focused on heavy trucks, was among the first to receive China’s heavy truck intelligent driving test licenses. Multiple smart heavy trucks are already in commercial operation.
Long-haul driver Tian Lei (田磊), 45, with over a decade of experience, told Xinhua: “At first I didn’t dare to use it, but later I found that long-distance driving really wasn’t as tiring. The machine isn’t driving for me — it’s helping me share some of the work when I’m most exhausted.”
At a postal center in western China, a 17-meter autonomous transfer trailer demonstrates the technology’s potential for operational efficiency. An official there noted: “In the past, the biggest shortage during peak periods was drivers. Now one safety officer can dispatch multiple vehicles from a back-end control center.”
The DeepWay Factor: A Case Study in Ambition
A key player driving this transformation is DeepWay (深向科技), founded in 2020 by logistics veteran Wan Jun and Baidu. DeepWay has become the first company globally to achieve batch delivery of positively defined intelligent new energy heavy trucks — vehicles designed from the ground up for autonomous driving rather than retrofitted from traditional chassis.
According to 36kr, DeepWay raised over $310 million in a Pre-IPO round in April 2026, marking Middle Eastern capital’s first investment in China’s heavy truck autonomous driving sector. The company has filed for an IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with a valuation approaching 10 billion RMB. Its revenue trajectory has been remarkable: from zero in 2022 to 426 million RMB in 2023, 1.969 billion RMB in 2024, and 1.506 billion RMB in the first half of 2025 alone. Clients include Shentong, CATL, Mengniu, SF Express, and IKEA.
Dual-Track Development and Policy Support
The industry is pursuing a dual-track strategy. L2-level smart heavy trucks, costing under 500,000 RMB, are already being mass-produced by the thousands, providing driver-assist features that reduce fatigue and improve safety. Meanwhile, L4-level autonomous trucks targeting full driverless operation are being tested in controlled environments.
China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) emphasizes high-quality development, with transportation shifting toward efficient, green, and intelligent systems. Smart driving heavy trucks are positioned as a key practice scenario for cultivating “new quality productive forces” (新质生产力). National policy requires that by 2026, smart coal mine production capacity should account for no less than 60%, creating a powerful regulatory driver for autonomous vehicle adoption.
Challenges Remain on the Road Ahead
Despite the progress, significant hurdles remain. Bao Weidong (鲍伟东), Deputy Director of Shaanxi Auto’s Automotive Engineering Research Institute, told Xinhua: “Smart driving heavy trucks have achieved large-scale application in specific scenarios, and commercial operations on open roads are beginning to be explored. However, the overall stage is still transitioning from pilot demonstrations to large-scale promotion.”
Key challenges include open-road right-of-way regulations, cross-regional policy coordination, complex scenario perception capabilities, and liability determination mechanisms. As Sohu Auto reported in September 2025, applying for testing permits across multiple provinces can take three to six months, and the lack of unified national management for autonomous truck operations remains a critical bottleneck.
Cost barriers also persist. L2 smart trucks cost 100,000 to 150,000 RMB more than traditional trucks, deterring the small and medium-sized individual operators who control most of China’s long-haul freight capacity.
What to Watch For
Looking ahead, closed scenarios such as mines, ports, and logistics parks will continue to lead deployment, driven by policy mandates and clear return on investment. The emergence of “1+N” platooning — one lead driver with multiple unmanned following vehicles — is seen as the most viable path to L4 commercialization for highway logistics. As production scales, the cost premium for smart trucks is expected to narrow, making them accessible to smaller operators.
With China holding more than half of the world’s autonomous transport trucks and billions in capital flowing into the sector, the country’s heavy truck industry is not just exploring autonomous driving — it is actively building the infrastructure, technology, and regulatory framework to make it a commercial reality.