Autonomous vehicles working in public service sector set to surge Automakers are entering the unmanned delivery vehicle market, with many launching products this year. Experts predict 2026 will be a watershed year as self-driving delivery technology evolves from early trials to profitable commercial operations. Data from the China Communications and Transportation Association shows the nation's unmanned delivery fleet surged to 47,000 units in the first quarter of 2026, up from just around 10,000 units in 2024, with over 100 cities permitting these vehicles on public roads. Zelos led the market with a 53.2 percent share and 25,000 units in operation, followed by Neolix at 36.2 percent and 17,000 units. Soochow Securities projects the national fleet will exceed 100,000 units by the end of 2026. Collaborating with leading players has become the primary strategy for traditional automakers to accelerate their presence in the sector. Dongfeng Motor debuted its unmanned logistics brand Open-VAN earlier this month, alongside four Level 4 robovans covering cargo volumes of 2 to 60 cubic meters and loads from 1 to 13.6 metric tons. All models feature highly automated driving technology jointly developed with Zelos, with a cumulative operational validation of over 130 million kilometers. Dongfeng secured over 4,000 orders from eight partners including China Logistics Group at launch, with the first deliveries scheduled for August. GAC Commercial Vehicle reached an agreement with Neolix in March and rolled out RoboTruck, RoboVAN and RoboBUS platforms that can serve trunk logistics, urban delivery and urban passenger transport at the Beijing auto show in April. The X6T, the first unmanned logistics vehicle jointly developed by the two sides, debuted at the show. It focuses on urban last-mile delivery and branch logistics, featuring a 6 cu m cargo space that combines high load capacity with long-range capabilities. This makes it suitable for