Alibaba plans $2bn robovan merger with Zelos

Alibaba eyes $2 billion robovan tie-up with Zelos

Alibaba Group’s logistics arm is planning to merge its autonomous-driving unit Cainiao with China’s Zelos Technology to create a new entity valued at about $2 billion, according to a Wall Street Journal report cited by Reuters. The planned combination would bring together Cainiao’s driverless delivery operations with Zelos’s technology capabilities in a dedicated robovan-focused business. The report, published on January 29, said the information came from sources familiar with the matter.

Reuters, which relayed the Wall Street Journal account, said it was unable to immediately verify the report independently. No financial or structural details beyond the approximate $2 billion valuation of the new entity were disclosed in the coverage. The timing of any formal announcement or closing was also not specified in the information made public so far.

Cainiao is Alibaba’s logistics platform, and its autonomous-driving unit has been working on driverless delivery vehicles often referred to as “robovans.” Zelos Technology is a Chinese company active in related autonomous-driving technologies, and the merger plan would effectively fold both sets of assets into a single structure. The move would give the new entity a focused mandate around automated logistics and last-mile delivery solutions.

Strategic focus on autonomous delivery and robovans

The reported transaction centers on the growing use of autonomous vehicles in logistics, positioning the new company squarely in the robovan segment. By combining Cainiao’s operational experience in logistics with Zelos’s technology base, Alibaba’s logistics arm would gain a more specialized platform for developing and deploying autonomous delivery fleets. The Wall Street Journal report framed the deal as an effort to build scale and capability in this niche.

Robovans and other autonomous delivery vehicles are being tested and deployed to improve efficiency and reduce labor intensity in parcel delivery and e-commerce logistics. A dedicated entity with an estimated $2 billion valuation suggests a meaningful capital commitment behind this strategy. While the articles did not detail revenue or asset contributions from each side, the valuation figure indicates expectations for significant growth potential in automated logistics.

The formation of a stand-alone robovan business could also give Alibaba’s logistics arm more flexibility in seeking partners, funding, or future strategic options around the autonomous-driving assets. However, neither Alibaba nor Zelos was quoted directly in the Reuters relay of the Wall Street Journal report, and no official statements accompanied the media coverage at this stage.

Market and verification context around the reported deal

The report emerges as large e-commerce and technology companies continue to invest in automation across their supply chains. In this case, Reuters emphasized that it could not immediately verify the Wall Street Journal’s account, underlining that the information remains based on unnamed sources rather than confirmed corporate disclosures. That caveat is important context for investors and industry observers assessing the potential impact.

No details were provided regarding how ownership in the new robovan entity would be divided between Cainiao and Zelos, nor whether external investors might participate. The coverage also did not discuss how the merger would affect existing employees, operations, or current autonomous-driving pilots underway. Further clarity would depend on any subsequent announcements by Alibaba, Cainiao, or Zelos.

Despite the limited public detail, the reported transaction highlights continued interest in integrating autonomous-driving technologies into commercial logistics. For Alibaba’s logistics arm, a $2 billion robovan-focused business would represent a sizable, clearly defined bet on automated delivery. For Zelos, the deal would place its technology inside a larger operating framework tied to one of China’s largest e-commerce ecosystems.