China Focus: From test grounds to worksites, China scales up real-world deployment of intelligent heavy-duty trucks XI'AN, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Climbing into the cab of a new-energy intelligent heavy-duty truck and pressing the start button, one is greeted not by the familiar roar of a diesel engine, but by a calm voice prompt. The nearly four-meter-tall vehicle, weighing tens of tonnes, comes to life as the steering wheel smoothly turns itself. At a testing base in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the giant rolled quietly out of its parking space, effortlessly spotting obstacles and navigating around them with impressive precision. As it approached a curve, it automatically adjusted its trajectory. A screen displayed real-time data such as lane markings, surrounding vehicles and potential hazards. The truck is one of a fleet of intelligent heavy-duty trucks already in commercial operation by Shaanxi Automobile Holding Group Co., Ltd (SAHG), a Fortune China 500 company specializing in heavy-duty trucks and one of the country's first enterprises to secure a permit for testing intelligent truck driving. In recent years, the commercialization of China's intelligent-driving vehicles has frequently captured public attention. Beyond the spotlight, intelligent heavy-duty trucks are also making their way into frontline economic sectors, including mines, ports, factories and construction sites, with their applications continuing to expand. According to a GlobalData report, the number of autonomous haul trucks in operation worldwide has risen from 2,080 in July 2024 to 3,832 in July 2025. China ranked first worldwide with 2,108 vehicles. Intelligent trucks are mainly deployed commercially in two scenarios: long-haul highway logistics, where drivers are assisted by intelligent driving systems, and closed environments such as ports, mines and logistics parks, where vehicles operate autonomously, said Bao Weidong, deputy director of SAHG's automotive engineering research institute. China is the perfect proving