A news story and interview with an autonomous vehicle manufacturer in China.
Beijing, China
China-based self-driving logistics startup Neolix Technologies has started mass producing small self-driving delivery vans, designed to deliver packages to urban locations in China. The shuttle-like vans sport 2.4 x 2.4 x 2.4-meter containers and four-wheel disc brakes. Each vehicle can detect and avoid obstacles using a combination of sensors and high-definition maps captured with "centimeter-level" accuracy. The vehicles can travel up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) on a single battery charge at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour (31 miles per hour). However, currently, a person needs to physically be at the delivery location to accept the package from a vehicle.
Based on testing of prototype vehicles on Chinese college campuses, the company expects to produce approximately 1000 of these delivery vans at a cost of about $30,000 each in 2020.
Chinese Startup Neolix Starts Making Driverless Delivery Vans
Small self-driving delivery van: $30K