JD.com tests drone delivery in rural China
A man flies a drone for aerial photography in Bozhou, Anhui province. BEIJING -- Online Chinese retailer JD.com announced Thursday it is conducting trial deliveries using unmanned aerial vehicles, otherwise known as drones, and plan to roll it out for delivery in rural China. JD.com's CEO Richard Liu Qiangdong said late last year that the company is developing drone delivery to meet the rising retail demand in China's rural areas, where complex terrain and underdeveloped infrastructure have compromised timely human courier delivery. JD.com said the drone service will not get packages directly to shoppers but will instead help transport bundles of items from its distribution stations to 150,000 representatives mobilized across rural China who will then get them to shoppers. Both JD.com and its arch rival Alibaba have been working to unleash consumption demand from China's 618 million rural residents, whose income growth has been outpacing their urban peers in recent years despite a slowing economy.
Unmanned aerial vehicles revolutionizing logistics, delivery services in China
Unmanned aerial vehicles revolutionizing logistics, delivery services in China
Discover Related
Bengaluru Launches Commercial Drone Delivery Service After 3-Year Wait
Bengaluru finally gets 'drone deliveries', services available in Konankunte and Kanakapura Road areas
Unmanned cargo plane undergoes debut test in Qingdao
Unmanned cargo plane undergoes debut test in Qingdao
Unmanned cargo plane undergoes debut test in Qingdao
China unveils measures to counter drone interference with civil flights
Doctors and hospitals look to drones to deliver drugs, supplies—and even organs
Bengaluru-based start-up unveils cargo drone
USPS Halts All Packages From China, Sending the Ecommerce Industry Into Chaos
US Postal Service will accept packages from China, Hong Kong after freeze
Chinese satellite enterprises provide expanded, improved global services
Drones help China safeguard human rights via disaster response, safer jobs
Shandong urged to accelerate development of low-altitude economy
China delivers first batch of homegrown, mass-produced large civil UAVs
China delivers first batch of homegrown, mass-produced large civil UAVs
Drone makers looking to steer clear of China fear Beijing’s Wrath
Beijing slams U.S. over potential Chinese drone ban
Guangzhou shipping transaction center established in Nansha