Electric Giants Redefine Freight: Zeron Leads Autonomous Truck Charge
July 26, 2025, 9:48 am
Zeron secured $70 million for its purpose-built electric heavy-duty trucks. The company targets autonomous freight, challenging traditional retrofits. Zeron delivered over 700 units, aiming for 1,500 by year-end. Momenta co-led the round, expanding its smart mobility footprint into freight. This move signals a new era for logistics, prioritizing integrated hardware and advanced AI for a driverless future, transforming the industry.
The future of freight is electric. It is autonomous. A new wave of innovation is sweeping through heavy-duty transport. At the forefront stands Zeron, a Chinese startup. It recently closed a substantial Series A funding round. The company raised RMB 500 million, equivalent to USD 70 million. This significant investment underscores growing confidence in Zeron’s unique approach.
Leading the funding were major venture capital firms. Momenta, Xinghang Venture Capital, and Cherish Capital co-led the round. Additional investors joined. These include Guofa Wenxin, Loudong Industrial Fund, and Deying Capital. Xinjing Fuying, Vision Plus Capital, Caitong Capital, and Ondine Capital also participated. Existing shareholder Skyview Fund reaffirmed its commitment.
This capital infusion serves a critical purpose. Zeron will scale its production capabilities. It will expand deployments of its autonomous freight vehicles. The company’s vision is clear: build electric trucks from the ground up, designed for self-driving functionality.
Zeron’s inception dates to April 2022. Its leadership team brings extensive industry experience. Huang Zehua, a co-founder of autonomous trucking company TuSimple, founded Zeron. Zhang Hongsong, a former general manager at Sany Heavy Truck and vice president at Beiqi Foton Daimler Automotive, joined him. Zhang Wei, an ex-executive director at Sinotruk, assumed sales and market expansion duties in late 2023. This seasoned team drives Zeron’s ambitious goals.
A key insight drives Zeron’s core strategy. Retrofitting autonomous systems onto existing truck platforms is inefficient. Such legacy designs inherently limit full autonomy. Electric and self-driving trucks demand purpose-built hardware. Many issues arise not from software but from inadequate vehicle components. This realization led Zeron to its defining premise: the entire vehicle’s hardware dictates autonomous freight’s true potential.
Zeron tackles this challenge head-on. It develops both the "body" and the "brain" of its trucks. This vertical integration is crucial. It creates a platform optimized for electrification and autonomy. The company designs its own autonomous driving stack, specifically tailored for heavy freight.
A robust, 200-person team supports this integrated approach. Experts focus on key technological areas. These include proprietary powertrains, advanced thermal systems, and sophisticated electrical architecture. Connectivity solutions and smart vehicle systems complete the development.
Zeron made substantial progress quickly. After two years of development, RMB 150 million (USD 21 million) was invested. In 2024, Zeron rolled out its first-generation smart trucks. These models are named Jingzhe and Xiaoman. Their debut marked a significant milestone. Zeron received strong support from suppliers. This assistance helped manage tooling costs and accelerate research and development iterations.
Zeron’s new trucks boast impressive performance. They deliver up to 860 horsepower. This power comes from Zeron’s proprietary electric drive axle. This figure significantly surpasses most flagship diesel models, typically capped at 600 horsepower. It also outpaces many retrofitted electric models, often below 500 horsepower. Despite this performance boost, Zeron maintains competitive pricing. Its efficient, self-developed powertrain keeps costs comparable to diesel-to-electric conversions.
Efficiency is another major advantage. Zeron trucks use less electricity per kilometer. They save 0.2–0.3 kilowatt-hours compared to retrofitted electric models. This translates to substantial energy cost savings, up to 20 percent. For drivers covering 150,000 kilometers annually, this means over RMB 45,000 (USD 6,300) in yearly savings. These economic benefits drive adoption.
By mid-2025, Zeron had delivered over 700 heavy trucks. Bulk logistics industries account for approximately 80 percent of its customer base. The company aims to deliver 1,500 units by year’s end. This rapid growth mirrors a broader market shift.
The current transition in electric freight parallels China’s 2018 passenger electric vehicle surge. That period saw startups like Nio, Xpeng Motors, and Li Auto launch their initial models. Traditional diesel truck makers still dominate in branding and distribution. However, Zeron sees a clear opening for agile challengers.
Building trucks is merely one part of Zeron’s overarching mission. Full autonomy remains the ultimate objective. The potential for fully driverless trucks exists within the next decade. Zeron is actively developing advanced autonomous driving algorithms. These are specifically designed for freight’s unique challenges. Heavy payloads and extended braking distances demand specialized solutions.
Zeron’s goal is Level 4 autonomy. It pursues this through end-to-end computer vision systems. This approach simplifies the technology stack. It enhances performance. Zeron leverages the broad adaptability of large language models. This helps handle complex edge cases.
In late July, Zeron will deploy its ZSD system. Vehicles equipped with ZSD will operate at a stainless steel facility in Yangjiang, Guangdong. This marks a critical step. Over the next three years, Zeron plans a massive rollout. It aims for more than 10,000 autonomous trucks across 500 cities. Initial targets are semi-enclosed environments. These include ports, mines, and bulk cargo corridors.
Zeron is also strengthening a crucial partnership. Shareholder Momenta plays a significant role. This collaboration accelerates the development of truck-specific assisted driving features. Momenta is a leading supplier of driver assistance systems for passenger vehicles globally. Its partnership with Zeron marks its entry into the freight sector. It expands Momenta’s footprint in smart mobility.
Autonomy in freight presents distinct constraints. Trucks are inherently utilitarian. They are highly cost-sensitive. Advanced features, like lane centering and automated lane changes, must justify their cost. This requires deep integration between software and hardware. Zeron and Momenta see this as a vast opportunity. Working together, they enable more complex autonomous capabilities in heavy trucks.
Zeron’s comprehensive roadmap unfolds in phases. It begins with deployments in closed environments. This progresses to semi-enclosed zones. Eventually, autonomous trucks will operate on open roads. Technological progress is vital. However, commercialization extends far beyond software.
The practical complexities of manufacturing are immense. Hardware design, efficient production, and robust supply chains are essential. Effective sales strategies, reliable charging infrastructure, and comprehensive after-sales service complete the equation. Zeron navigates these challenges. It aims to transform the entire freight ecosystem. The company is poised to lead the electric and autonomous revolution in heavy-duty logistics.
The future of freight is electric. It is autonomous. A new wave of innovation is sweeping through heavy-duty transport. At the forefront stands Zeron, a Chinese startup. It recently closed a substantial Series A funding round. The company raised RMB 500 million, equivalent to USD 70 million. This significant investment underscores growing confidence in Zeron’s unique approach.
Leading the funding were major venture capital firms. Momenta, Xinghang Venture Capital, and Cherish Capital co-led the round. Additional investors joined. These include Guofa Wenxin, Loudong Industrial Fund, and Deying Capital. Xinjing Fuying, Vision Plus Capital, Caitong Capital, and Ondine Capital also participated. Existing shareholder Skyview Fund reaffirmed its commitment.
This capital infusion serves a critical purpose. Zeron will scale its production capabilities. It will expand deployments of its autonomous freight vehicles. The company’s vision is clear: build electric trucks from the ground up, designed for self-driving functionality.
Zeron’s inception dates to April 2022. Its leadership team brings extensive industry experience. Huang Zehua, a co-founder of autonomous trucking company TuSimple, founded Zeron. Zhang Hongsong, a former general manager at Sany Heavy Truck and vice president at Beiqi Foton Daimler Automotive, joined him. Zhang Wei, an ex-executive director at Sinotruk, assumed sales and market expansion duties in late 2023. This seasoned team drives Zeron’s ambitious goals.
A key insight drives Zeron’s core strategy. Retrofitting autonomous systems onto existing truck platforms is inefficient. Such legacy designs inherently limit full autonomy. Electric and self-driving trucks demand purpose-built hardware. Many issues arise not from software but from inadequate vehicle components. This realization led Zeron to its defining premise: the entire vehicle’s hardware dictates autonomous freight’s true potential.
Zeron tackles this challenge head-on. It develops both the "body" and the "brain" of its trucks. This vertical integration is crucial. It creates a platform optimized for electrification and autonomy. The company designs its own autonomous driving stack, specifically tailored for heavy freight.
A robust, 200-person team supports this integrated approach. Experts focus on key technological areas. These include proprietary powertrains, advanced thermal systems, and sophisticated electrical architecture. Connectivity solutions and smart vehicle systems complete the development.
Zeron made substantial progress quickly. After two years of development, RMB 150 million (USD 21 million) was invested. In 2024, Zeron rolled out its first-generation smart trucks. These models are named Jingzhe and Xiaoman. Their debut marked a significant milestone. Zeron received strong support from suppliers. This assistance helped manage tooling costs and accelerate research and development iterations.
Zeron’s new trucks boast impressive performance. They deliver up to 860 horsepower. This power comes from Zeron’s proprietary electric drive axle. This figure significantly surpasses most flagship diesel models, typically capped at 600 horsepower. It also outpaces many retrofitted electric models, often below 500 horsepower. Despite this performance boost, Zeron maintains competitive pricing. Its efficient, self-developed powertrain keeps costs comparable to diesel-to-electric conversions.
Efficiency is another major advantage. Zeron trucks use less electricity per kilometer. They save 0.2–0.3 kilowatt-hours compared to retrofitted electric models. This translates to substantial energy cost savings, up to 20 percent. For drivers covering 150,000 kilometers annually, this means over RMB 45,000 (USD 6,300) in yearly savings. These economic benefits drive adoption.
By mid-2025, Zeron had delivered over 700 heavy trucks. Bulk logistics industries account for approximately 80 percent of its customer base. The company aims to deliver 1,500 units by year’s end. This rapid growth mirrors a broader market shift.
The current transition in electric freight parallels China’s 2018 passenger electric vehicle surge. That period saw startups like Nio, Xpeng Motors, and Li Auto launch their initial models. Traditional diesel truck makers still dominate in branding and distribution. However, Zeron sees a clear opening for agile challengers.
Building trucks is merely one part of Zeron’s overarching mission. Full autonomy remains the ultimate objective. The potential for fully driverless trucks exists within the next decade. Zeron is actively developing advanced autonomous driving algorithms. These are specifically designed for freight’s unique challenges. Heavy payloads and extended braking distances demand specialized solutions.
Zeron’s goal is Level 4 autonomy. It pursues this through end-to-end computer vision systems. This approach simplifies the technology stack. It enhances performance. Zeron leverages the broad adaptability of large language models. This helps handle complex edge cases.
In late July, Zeron will deploy its ZSD system. Vehicles equipped with ZSD will operate at a stainless steel facility in Yangjiang, Guangdong. This marks a critical step. Over the next three years, Zeron plans a massive rollout. It aims for more than 10,000 autonomous trucks across 500 cities. Initial targets are semi-enclosed environments. These include ports, mines, and bulk cargo corridors.
Zeron is also strengthening a crucial partnership. Shareholder Momenta plays a significant role. This collaboration accelerates the development of truck-specific assisted driving features. Momenta is a leading supplier of driver assistance systems for passenger vehicles globally. Its partnership with Zeron marks its entry into the freight sector. It expands Momenta’s footprint in smart mobility.
Autonomy in freight presents distinct constraints. Trucks are inherently utilitarian. They are highly cost-sensitive. Advanced features, like lane centering and automated lane changes, must justify their cost. This requires deep integration between software and hardware. Zeron and Momenta see this as a vast opportunity. Working together, they enable more complex autonomous capabilities in heavy trucks.
Zeron’s comprehensive roadmap unfolds in phases. It begins with deployments in closed environments. This progresses to semi-enclosed zones. Eventually, autonomous trucks will operate on open roads. Technological progress is vital. However, commercialization extends far beyond software.
The practical complexities of manufacturing are immense. Hardware design, efficient production, and robust supply chains are essential. Effective sales strategies, reliable charging infrastructure, and comprehensive after-sales service complete the equation. Zeron navigates these challenges. It aims to transform the entire freight ecosystem. The company is poised to lead the electric and autonomous revolution in heavy-duty logistics.