Zelos

Zelos Technology, founded in August 2021, operates as a developer of L4 autonomous driving technology specifically for the urban logistics market. The company is headquartered in Suzhou, China, with a global presence that includes Beijing, Silicon Valley, and Singapore. The founding team includes Kong Qi and Zhuang Li, drawing expertise from major technology companies like Baidu and JD.com. Zelos addresses the B2B urban logistics sector, targeting pain points such as high operating costs and driver shortages by providing autonomous vehicle solutions. Its clients are primarily small businesses, including franchisors and distributors for major brands in express delivery, supermarket retail, pharmaceuticals, and community group buying.

The company's business model focuses on the "turnkey vehicle sales" of its autonomous delivery vehicles, and it was reportedly the first in its industry to achieve profitable operations with this model. Zelos started as a software developer but expanded to include hardware, now employing a significant R&D team to handle the full stack of technology in-house. This includes proprietary L4 algorithms, core software, and hardware components, organized across intelligent, vehicle, and electrification platforms. This vertical integration was a response to manufacturing challenges, such as needing to build its own chassis when suppliers could not meet specifications for larger vehicle models.

Zelos has developed a series of completely autonomous vehicles, which notably lack a driver's compartment or steering wheel. The product lineup includes models like the Z2, Z5, Z8, and Z10, each designed for different cargo capacities and operational scenarios, from narrow urban environments to long-distance industrial logistics. For instance, the flagship Z5 model offers a 5-cubic-meter capacity and a 140-kilometer range. These electric vehicles are equipped with advanced sensor suites, including high-performance LiDAR from partners like Hesai, enabling them to navigate complex urban conditions. The vehicles can be charged using a standard 220V outlet. As of late 2024, the company had deployed over 1,000 vehicles across more than 130 cities, delivering over 100 million orders and reducing operational costs for clients by an average of 62%. Zelos is also expanding internationally, having secured the first unmanned logistics vehicle license in Singapore and established operations in Japan, Europe, and the Middle East.

Keywords: L4 autonomous driving, urban logistics, autonomous delivery vehicles, B2B logistics, last-mile delivery, intelligent logistics, driverless vehicles, unmanned logistics, EV technology, commercial autonomous vehicles, robotics, supply chain automation, smart city logistics, Hesai LiDAR, Kong Qi, Zhuang Li, Cenntro, Meituan, Blue Lake Capital, Suzhou