Shenzhen has launched China’s first “five-party co-operation” system for unmanned delivery, with Neolix as the core technology provider. The pilot, in Longgang district, covers night-time logistics.
The five parties are: technology (Neolix, providing vehicles and algorithms), assets (Disheng Tie, holding vehicle assets), commerce flow (Huolala, matching logistics orders), operations (Eastern Bus, managing safety and maintenance), and regulation (local government, monitoring data and emergency response).
From 4123 to five-party
Shenzhen has been building toward this since 2024, when it launched the city’s first unified autonomous driving pilot scheme. In 2025, it introduced the 4123 framework: four goals, one operator, two infrastructure bases, three digital platforms. The five-party model translates that framework into operational roles with clear responsibilities.
Neolix’s vehicles are adapted for night-time low-light conditions and complex street environments. The standardised deployment can quickly fit the five-party framework, providing a technical foundation for scaled night-time logistics.
Why five parties, not one
The industry’s bottleneck is not technology. It is the absence of an integrated support system. Small and medium merchants need more than just vehicles. They need maintenance, safety management, and order matching. The five-party model fills those gaps by distributing responsibilities across specialised entities.
The technology provider bears primary safety responsibility, establishing a “whoever makes it, covers it, traceable” accountability chain. Grid safety officers must arrive on scene within 15 minutes. Night-time vehicles carry uniform reflective markings and complaint hotlines.
Why Longgang, why night
Longgang has the highest number of functional unmanned vehicles in Shenzhen, with prior night-time operating experience. Night roads have less traffic and simpler conditions, making them ideal for validating reliability and fine-tuning multi-party coordination. The pilot will gradually expand to other times and districts.
Shenzhen’s autonomous driving network now covers all administrative districts. The Longgang night logistics experience will radiate outward, eventually achieving city-wide deployment.
Editor’s note: This is an adapted translation of the original Shenzhen News report. It has been trimmed and restructured for readability for an international business audience.