Deepening Cooperation: IAT Auto and KargoBot Explore Intelligent Logistics Ecosystem

Source: Author: Date:2025-04-25 Read:23

At the Shanghai International Auto Show opening on April 23, IAT Auto and KargoBot officially entered into a strategic partnership. The two parties will jointly develop intelligent transport robots for last-mile logistics delivery and urban express delivery. This collaboration marks another strategic move by IAT Auto in the field of intelligent mobility, showcasing the company’s technological prowess in autonomous driving and smart logistics equipment.

During the launch event, KargoBot unveiled the world’s first future transport robot, KargoBot Space, and introduced its open-source, universal-centric strategy for future transport robots. Built on a universal platform, the robot is designed to adapt to diverse transportation scenarios and needs. Models tailored for bulk cargo and express delivery are expected to enter mass production by 2027. 

Based on the first principles of unmanned transportation, the product eliminates the cockpit—a component that traditionally accounts for significant cost and weight—increasing cargo space by 25% and effective payload capacity by 10%. This innovation is projected to revolutionize freight economics, boosting per-vehicle gross profit by fivefold and generating an additional annual income of RMB 250,000–400,000 per vehicle over its lifecycle.

As part of its design, KargoBot Space also achieves breakthroughs in intelligent lighting systems, combining high interactivity and safety. Equipped with interactive dot-matrix screens, smart lights, and voice broadcast systems, it can communicate real-time operational intentions and vehicle status to surrounding pedestrians and vehicles, enhancing operational safety. For instance, during autonomous driving, if cut off or interfered with, the robot issues alerts. 

In case of malfunctions, it activates emergency lights and hazard flashers faster than a human driver, pulling over to ensure safety for itself and other road users. This interactive design integrates safety, efficiency, and emotional engagement, redefining the functional role of transport robots while creating a future-ready intelligent companion that is communicative, expressive, and visually appealing.

Photo (left to right): Li Lizhong, Vice Chairman of IAT Automobile Technology Co., Ltd.; Jin Renqun, Vice President of ZTO Express Group; Shu Lei, Assistant President of CIMC Vehicles Group and CEO of CIMC Lighthouse Trailer Business Group; Des O’Regan, R&D Vice President of ZF Group Commercial Vehicle Solutions Asia-Pacific; Wei Junqing, CEO of KargoBot; Yu Kai, Founder and CEO of Horizon Robotics; and Yang Jun, CEO of CATL’s Battery Swap Business Unit and CEO of CATL Qiji.

Additionally, KargoBot announced partnerships with IAT Auto, Deda Logistics, FOR-U Smart Freight, CIMC Vehicles, ZTO Express, and others to co-develop transport robots tailored for last-mile and urban logistics. Together, they aim to build an autonomous driving and robotics-powered smart logistics ecosystem, driving comprehensive intelligent transformation in the transportation industry. Collaborations will also extend to Horizon Robotics, Hesai Technology, and CATL.

In 2024, IAT Auto joined the New Energy Autonomous Convoy Transportation Alliance initiated by KargoBot. As a leading independent automotive design company in China, IAT Auto will leverage its expertise in vehicle design, autonomous driving, and new energy vehicle technologies to provide comprehensive R&D support for KargoBot’s future transport ecosystem. With over two decades of technical expertise, IAT Auto will empower the intelligent upgrade of transport robots.

This strategic partnership not only highlights IAT Auto’s technological capabilities in intelligent mobility but also injects fresh momentum into the intelligent transformation of China’s logistics industry. Moving forward, IAT Auto will continue to deepen innovation in autonomous driving and smart equipment, contributing to the high-quality development of intelligent manufacturing in China. The company remains committed to integrating cutting-edge technology into automotive solutions, ensuring their efforts in science for better cars.

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