From Drones to Lorries How Former DJI Engineers Are Rethinking Autonomous Logistics
From Aerial Precision to Ground Transport
China’s fast growing autonomous driving sector is seeing a familiar pattern repeat itself as talent and technology spill over from major technology firms into a new generation of start ups. One of the latest examples comes from a former self driving unit at DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer. Engineers who once focused on navigating the skies are now turning their attention to highways and heavy vehicles.
The transition reflects a broader shift in China’s innovation ecosystem. As drone technology matures, the expertise built in perception, control systems, and real time decision making is finding new applications on the ground. Autonomous lorries and logistics vehicles present a natural next step for teams experienced in managing complex machines operating in dynamic environments.
A Start Up With Big Ambitions
The company leading this effort is ZYT, also known as Zhuoyu. Based in Shenzhen, the firm plans to enter the heavy duty vehicle sector in 2026, expanding beyond urban autonomous driving into highway based transport. This move positions ZYT at the intersection of two major trends, the push for self driving technology and the transformation of logistics.
ZYT’s strategy is shaped by its origins. Having emerged from DJI’s autonomous driving efforts, the team brings with it a deep understanding of sensors, navigation algorithms, and safety critical systems. These capabilities are increasingly valuable as the industry shifts from pilot projects toward large scale commercial deployment.
Highways As The Next Testing Ground
While many autonomous driving firms began with city streets, highways offer a different and in some ways more practical environment for early commercialisation. Traffic patterns are more predictable, road infrastructure is standardized, and operating conditions can be tightly controlled. For logistics operators, highway autonomy promises immediate efficiency gains.
ZYT plans to introduce its navigate on autopilot feature specifically for lorries operating on highways. The system is designed to handle long distance driving with minimal human intervention, allowing drivers to focus on supervision rather than constant control. This approach aims to reduce fatigue, improve safety, and lower operating costs.
Mass Production on the Horizon
According to CEO Shen Shaojie, the company is targeting mass production of its autonomous highway solution in the first half of 2026. This timeline reflects growing confidence in both the technology and market readiness. Logistics companies are under pressure to improve efficiency as labor costs rise and delivery volumes continue to grow.
Moving from prototypes to mass production represents a critical hurdle. It requires not only technical reliability but also regulatory approval, supply chain readiness, and customer trust. ZYT’s leadership believes its background in drone technology provides an advantage in building systems designed for scale and reliability.
Why Drone Technology Transfers Well
Drone systems and autonomous vehicles share core technological foundations. Both rely heavily on perception systems to interpret their surroundings, precise positioning to navigate accurately, and robust control algorithms to respond to unexpected events. DJI’s success in drones was built on mastering these elements under demanding conditions.
Transferring this expertise to lorries allows ZYT to bypass some of the early learning curve faced by newer entrants. Experience in safety certification, redundancy design, and real world testing gives the company a practical edge as competition intensifies.
Competition and Commercial Pressure
The race to commercialise autonomous trucking in China is accelerating. Start ups and established players alike are targeting logistics as a sector where automation can deliver clear economic benefits. However, competition is fierce, and only a handful of firms are likely to achieve sustainable scale.
ZYT’s focus on highway autonomy reflects a pragmatic strategy. By narrowing the operational domain, the company increases its chances of delivering a reliable product that meets immediate market needs. Success in this segment could provide the foundation for expansion into more complex scenarios later.
A Broader Signal for Chinese Innovation
The move from drones to lorries illustrates how China’s innovation system is evolving. Technologies developed in one sector are rapidly repurposed across industries, driven by entrepreneurial teams with hands on experience. This cross pollination accelerates development and shortens the path from concept to commercialization.
As ZYT prepares to bring its autonomous lorry technology to market, it highlights a broader trend. Chinese start ups are increasingly built not from scratch, but from the accumulated expertise of Big Tech pioneers. In the race to redefine logistics and transport, those roots may prove to be a decisive advantage.
