Inceptio Technology (“Inceptio,” or the “Company”), China’s leading developer of autonomous driving technologies for heavy-duty trucks, recently delivered a new batch of Inceptio autonomous heavy-duty trucks to YTO Express, a leading private logistics firm in China.

The trucks were jointly developed with Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd. (“Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle”) for mass production and pre-loaded with Inceptio Autonomous Driving System. They were delivered to YTO Express following months of operational testing with 10 autonomous trucks on regular logistical routes. 

The delivery is a significant advancement in YTO Express’ initiatives to increase technological and operational efficiency and reflects how the logistics sector is accelerating its adoption of autonomous trucks, which will make the industry safer, more efficient and more cost-effective.  After finding success in initial trials, YTO Express will increase its transportation capacity with this delivery by deploying dozens of autonomous trucks to serve multiple distribution centers in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Jieyang, Yiwu, and other major routes in eastern and central China.

As China’s leading developer of autonomous-driving technologies for heavy-duty trucks, Inceptio has long been at the vanguard of momentous change in the industry. Its innovative and influential autonomous-driving system includes LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar, cameras, and a computing platform. With industry leading algorithms in perception, planning and control, and fuel-saving technologies with complex route-planning capabilities, these Inceptio-powered autonomous trucks have significantly enhanced the safety and operational efficiency of long-haul freight operators.

During operational trials last year, one participating driver, Zhongqiao Yang, stated he usually travels between YTO Express' Wuhan and Linhai distribution centers, a round trip of more than 820 kilometers. In years past, drivers would be stressed and fatigued by long hours on the road, plus they would have to make considerations for timeliness and safety.

"Now, with this truck's ability to cruise autonomously and recognize directions, I feel much more relaxing. If I show any signs of fatigue, the system immediately issues a warning by tightening the seatbelt and vibrating the seat to alert me, ensuring safety," Yang said. 

In addition to improved safety and operational efficiency, these trucks are more fuel-efficient, YTO Express found after months of testing. Operational data from the tests showed that when compared to traditional trucks, autonomous trucks can reduce fuel consumption by 2 liters per 100 kilometers. Using Yang’s usual Wuhan-to-Linhai route as an example—and with a current average diesel price of RMB7.6 per liter—a single trip can save around RMB120, which brings a significant reduction in annual operational costs. 

In addition to cost savings, cutting back on fuel consumption is more friendly to the environment. It is estimated that an autonomous truck, by saving 6,000 liters of diesel a year, can reduce C02 emissions by 15,780 kilograms. If we put that in terms of the carbon reduction achieved by recycling a single express delivery package—which averages 37 grams in weight—a truck in operation for a year is equivalent to recycling more than 400,000 packages.