Top 7 China Drone Delivery Companies 2025
China's drone delivery market completed over 5 million commercial deliveries in 2025, a 200% increase from the previous year. Major e-commerce and logistics companies have established drone delivery networks across 200+ Chinese cities, with a focus on last-mile delivery in rural areas, island communities, and medical supply chains. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has issued over 100 drone delivery operating certificates.
TL;DR: China's drone delivery exceeds 5 million commercial flights annually with 200+ cities covered. SF Express leads logistics drone deployment with 400,000+ flights while Meituan drone food delivery achieves 100,000+ orders/month across 20 cities.
Top Companies
SF Express Drone (顺丰无人机)
400,000+ delivery flightsSF Express operates China's largest logistics drone delivery network, with 400,000+ commercial delivery flights completed. Its Fenghou (丰鸟) drone program covers 300+ routes across rural China, delivering packages up to 20kg over 100km range, particularly serving remote mountainous and island communities.
Meituan Drone (美团无人机)
100K+ orders/monthMeituan operates urban drone food delivery across 20+ Chinese cities, completing 100,000+ orders per month. Its drones deliver food from rooftop micro-fulfillment centers to designated landing zones in 15-30 minutes, achieving costs 40% lower than traditional delivery for short-distance orders.
JD Logistics Drone (京东物流无人机)
150+ rural routesJD Logistics deploys delivery drones across 150+ routes in rural China, particularly in Jiangsu, Shaanxi, and Hainan provinces. Its vertical-takeoff drones carry up to 30kg packages, serving villages without road access and reducing delivery times from days to hours.
Antwork (峰飞航空)
Heavy cargo VTOL dronesAntwork (AutoFlight) develops heavy-cargo VTOL drones capable of carrying 100+ kg payloads over 200km range. Its K1000 drone is used for medical supply delivery between hospitals and remote clinics, and for industrial cargo transport between islands and mainland.
EHang (亿航智能)
Urban air mobilityEHang focuses on autonomous aerial vehicles for urban logistics and passenger transport. Its EH216-S is the world's first type-certified autonomous eVTOL for passenger use, while its logistics variant delivers small packages in urban environments. EHang has completed 50,000+ test and commercial flights.
YTO Express Drone (圆通无人机)
E-commerce last-mileYTO Express deploys drones for e-commerce last-mile delivery in partnership with Alibaba's Cainiao network. Its drones serve rural townships in Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces, with routes reaching 50km from distribution centers to village-level collection points.
ZTO Express Drone (中通无人机)
High-frequency daily routesZTO Express operates high-frequency daily drone delivery routes in pilot areas, achieving 10+ flights per day per drone on established routes. The company focuses on building drone delivery infrastructure including automated drone ports and package handling systems at distribution hubs.
Comparison Table
| Company | Flights (2025) | Payload | Range | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF Express | 400,000+ | 20kg | 100km | Rural, islands |
| Meituan | 1.2M+ | 2kg | 10km | Urban food delivery |
| JD Logistics | 200,000+ | 30kg | 50km | Rural e-commerce |
| Antwork | 50,000+ | 100kg | 200km | Medical, heavy cargo |
| EHang | 50,000+ | 5kg | 30km | Urban logistics |
| YTO Express | 80,000+ | 10kg | 30km | Rural e-commerce |
| ZTO Express | 60,000+ | 10kg | 20km | E-commerce last-mile |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is drone delivery legal in China?
Yes, China has established a comprehensive regulatory framework for drone delivery. The CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration) issues drone delivery operating certificates and has created low-altitude airspace zones for commercial drone operations. Regulations require real-time tracking, remote identification, and certified operators. China's drone regulations are among the most progressive globally, supporting rapid commercialization.
How much does drone delivery cost in China?
Drone delivery costs in China have declined to RMB 2-5 per delivery for urban food delivery (vs RMB 7-10 for rider delivery) and RMB 5-15 per parcel for rural logistics (vs RMB 15-30 for ground transport). Per-unit costs continue to decrease as drone utilization rates increase and batteries become cheaper. Major operators project breakeven by 2026-2027 at current growth rates.
What are China's low-altitude economy plans?
China's low-altitude economy initiative targets a market value of RMB 1.5 trillion by 2030. The government has designated low-altitude airspace reform pilot zones in Shenzhen, Hefei, and other cities, easing drone and eVTOL operations. Investment in low-altitude infrastructure including vertiports, drone corridors, and UTM (unmanned traffic management) systems exceeds RMB 100 billion.