Gasgoo Munich- On January 29, Chinese autonomous driving startup ZELOS and Cainiao, an e-commerce supply chain solution provider of Alibaba Group, jointly announced a far-reaching strategic integration of their autonomous vehicle operations.
Image source: ZELOS
Through a combination of asset injection and cash investment, Cainiao has become a shareholder in ZELOS, backing the company's ambition to build what it calls a "RoboVan super carrier." The move marks the start of a tightly aligned partnership focused squarely on autonomous delivery vans.
Following the integration, Cainiao will exit the direct manufacturing and sales of autonomous vehicles, instead leveraging its extensive logistics scenarios and ecosystem to accelerate real-world deployment. ZELOS will be authorized to operate under the "Cainiao Autonomous Vehicle" brand, introducing a dual-brand strategy aimed at different market segments.
The deal structure is designed to optimize resource allocation on both sides, strengthening ZELOS' technology stack and supply chain capabilities in L4 autonomous driving. With the integration completed, the company positions itself as a dominant, large-scale platform in autonomous freight—what it describes as the sector's only true "super carrier."
As part of the integration, Cainiao's autonomous vehicle management and technical leadership will join ZELOS, taking part in long-term strategy and day-to-day operations. The combination brings together Cainiao's experience across global logistics networks with ZELOS' strengths in autonomous vehicle platforms and algorithms, creating a company with deeper technical foundations and broader operational exposure.
After the restructuring, ZELOS will operate under a dual-brand model. The "Cainiao Autonomous Vehicle" brand will remain licensed from Cainiao and continue to be positioned as part of Alibaba's investment and incubation ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the two brands will pursue clearly differentiated roles. ZELOS will focus on full-stack, in-house autonomous driving technologies and comprehensive smart mobility solutions, while the Cainiao Autonomous Vehicle brand will concentrate on specific logistics scenarios and key enterprise clients, delivering RoboVan-based intelligent supply chain services. Through shared technology, coordinated operations, and integrated resources, both aim to co-build a future-oriented RoboVan ecosystem and capture complementary growth opportunities.
