载合卡车 (Zaihe Truck)
Category: AI in Supply Chain / Logistics
AI-native new energy heavy truck manufacturer developing 'vehicle-cloud integrated' intelligent heavy trucks with pure electric and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains 载合卡车 (Zaihe Truck) was founded in 2022. The company is led by 张磊 (Zhang Lei). Based in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. Team size: 101-500. Total funding raised: $140.0M. Latest round: Strategic Investment. Key investors include BV Baidu Ventures, 苏创投 (Su Ventures/Suzhou Venture Capital Group), 陆石投资 (Lushi Investment), 地平线 (Horizon Robotics), 创元集团 (Chuangyuan Group), 万安科技 (Wan'an Technology), 工银投资 (ICBC Investment), 建设银行 (China Construction Bank), 梵宇私募基金, 苏州高铁新城, 苏州国发创投, 苏州资管.
- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Team size
- 101-500
- Total funding
- $140.0M
Value proposition
Developing the world's first 'vehicle-cloud integrated AI heavy truck' (车云一体AI重卡) with a four-layer collaborative safety architecture, rejecting oil-to-electric conversions in favor of full forward-engineering, achieving industry-leading lightweight design (400-1000kg weight reduction vs peers), and the world's longest-range 1,500km hydrogen-electric flagship heavy truck
Products and solutions
轻量侠 (Lightweight Hero) series - 6×4 pure electric tractor with 9-ton curb weight and <1.15kWh/km energy consumption for short-haul bulk cargo, 远洋舰 (Ocean Vessel) series - hydrogen-electric flagship with 1,500km range (world's longest), delivered to SF Express, 特战队 (Special Forces) series, 先锋 (Pioneer) series, L2++ intelligent driving solution, iACC intelligent cruise algorithm, Platooning intelligent driving technology, Integrated domain control system (three-electric + smart chassis + thermal management)
Unique value
Only new energy heavy truck startup with both pure electric AND hydrogen fuel cell technology routes; world's longest-range 1,500km hydrogen heavy truck; 'vehicle-cloud integrated' AI architecture with four-layer safety system (redundant wire-controlled chassis + ADAS + onboard end-to-end large model + cloud control system); direct sales & direct service model for real-world data collection; aerospace-grade quality management fused with automotive standards
Target customer
Logistics and freight companies operating in express delivery, bulk logistics, short-haul, and long-haul trunk line transportation across China
Industries served
Logistics & Transportation (express delivery, bulk logistics, short-haul, long-haul trunk line), Green logistics, Smart transportation
Technology advantage
Full forward-engineering (no oil-to-electric conversion); proprietary integrated domain control system; vehicle-cloud integrated AI architecture with four-layer safety; L2++ intelligent driving; aerospace-grade lightweight design (400-1000kg weight reduction); 81 patents and 10 software copyrights as of March 2026; self-developed three-electric system; modular chassis technology; data closed-loop system with shadow mode and OTA
How they differentiate
Only player with both pure electric AND hydrogen fuel cell technology routes; 'vehicle-cloud integrated' AI architecture (vs. pure single-vehicle intelligence approach of competitors); world's longest-range 1,500km hydrogen heavy truck; aerospace-grade quality management; direct sales & service model (vs. traditional dealership model); incubated by Tsinghua University Suzhou Automotive Research Institute with strong academic lineage from Academician Li Keqiang's team
Main competitors
零一汽车 (Zero One Vehicle/01 Tech) - founded 2022 by ex-TuSimple co-founder, raised $400M+, DeepWay深向 - Baidu-backed heavy truck startup, 苇渡科技 (Windrose Technology) - electric/hydrogen autonomous heavy truck startup serving international clients
Key partnerships
BV Baidu Ventures (investor & strategic partner), Horizon Robotics (strategic partnership for intelligent driving, using Journey series computing platform), 创元集团 (Chuangyuan Group) - strategic investor, 万安科技 (Wan'an Technology) - strategic investor & partner, 苏创投 (Su Ventures/Suzhou Venture Capital Group), 陆石投资 (Lushi Investment), ICBC, China Construction Bank and other major state-owned banks, Tsinghua University Suzhou Automotive Research Institute (incubator), Suzhou High-Speed Rail New Town (incubator), Yangtze River Delta Green Smart Transportation Capacity Industry Alliance (founded by Zaihe)
Notable customers
顺丰 (SF Express) - batch delivery of world's longest-range 1,500km hydrogen-electric flagship heavy truck
Major milestones
2022-08: Company founded, incubated by Tsinghua University Suzhou Automotive Research Institute, 2023-05: Baidu (BV Baidu Ventures) becomes investor, 2023-10: Wan'an Technology invests ¥35M, 2024-11: Series A funding, 2025: Ranked top 3 in heavy truck new force delivery volume, recognized as China Potential Unicorn & Jiangsu dual-innovation talent enterprise, 2025-10: Showcased at SAECCE 2025, launched 'Zai Kid's Journey to the West' 20,000-li intelligent driving test, 2025-11: Strategic partnership with Horizon Robotics, 2026-03: Founded Yangtze River Delta Green Smart Transportation Capacity Industry Alliance, 2026-05: Announced cumulative ¥1B (~$140M) strategic funding round
Growth metrics
Ranked top 3 in delivery volume among heavy truck new forces in 2025; operations across 10+ provinces; tens of millions of km of customer operations and autonomous driving test mileage; recognized as China Potential Unicorn Enterprise and Jiangsu Province dual-innovation talent enterprise (2025)
Market positioning
Premium AI-native new energy heavy truck manufacturer positioned as a 'new force' (新势力) disruptor in China's heavy truck market, targeting the intersection of new energy transition and autonomous driving. Ranked top 3 in delivery volume among heavy truck new forces in 2025. Recognized as China Potential Unicorn Enterprise and Jiangsu Province dual-innovation talent enterprise.
Geographic focus
China (operations across 10+ provinces: Shaanxi, Henan, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Jiangsu, etc.), with Yangtze River Delta as core base
Patents and IP
81 patent records and 10 software copyright records as of March 2026. Key patents include: 'Battery Display SOC Following Correction Method and System' (CN119805236A), 'A New Type of Intelligent Low-Voltage Starting Battery and Its Control System' (CN118919977A), 'A Vehicle Redundant Electrical Architecture, Control Method, and Vehicle' (published March 2026). Software copyrights: 'Electric Vehicle Demand Power and Energy Consumption Automatic Calculation Software' (2024SR0052133), 'Electric Vehicle Battery Thermal Runaway Diagnosis System' (2025SR1209383). 197 trademark records.
About 张磊 (Zhang Lei)
Ex-China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (Youngest Section Chief, managed multi-billion-yuan aerospace projects); Ex-Founder of Qingzhi Technology (intelligent driving, largest M&A case in sector, #1 ADAS market share); PhD from Tsinghua University School of Vehicle and Mobility; Founding member of Academician Li Keqiang's 'AI Intelligent Driving & Vehicle-Cloud Integration' team; 200+ patents, 10+ core journal papers
Official website: http://z-truck.com