Chinese Autonomous Driving Startup Rino.ai Raises Nearly $68 Million in Seri...

　　TMTPOST – Rino.ai, a Chinese developer of L4 autonomous driving solutions, has closed its Series B+ financing round, bringing total Series B funding to nearly $68 million.

　　Existing investors SF Express and Linear Capital participated again, while new backers including Yi Jun Capital, 360 Fund, and Huatai Zijin joined the round. SF Express’s investment marks its third in Rino.ai within a year, following an initial stake in August 2024.

　　Founder and CEO Zhu Lei said the new capital will be directed toward three core areas: development of automotive-grade unmanned vehicles, continued AI technology iteration, and expansion of commercial applications. These initiatives aim to accelerate large-scale deployment in China’s last-mile logistics sector.

　　Founded in 2019 by a team with roots in Baidu’s autonomous driving division, Rino.ai initially focused on supermarket deliveries through partnerships with retailers such as Yonghui and Hema. Since 2023, the company has shifted its focus to express delivery, particularly routes from distribution centers to parcel stations.

　　Rino.ai’s fleet has grown from nearly 100 vehicles at the end of 2024 to more than 1,000 active units today, operating in over 100 cities and serving major logistics players including SF Express, ZTO Express, J&T Express, and China Post. According to the company, unmanned vehicles can cut last-mile delivery costs by 30%–50% and free couriers from 4–5 hours of daily shuttle work, boosting operational efficiency and business volume by more than 20%.

　　A key focus of the Series B+ funding is the development of automotive-grade unmanned vehicles. Rino.ai is adhering to industry standards across design, supply chain, and manufacturing, with rigorous testing to ensure safety, reliability, and longevity. The approach addresses customer concerns and facilitates regulatory compliance for road operations.

　　Looking ahead, Rino.ai plans to expand into retail restocking and intra-city freight, with an active vehicle fleet target of 5,000 by 2026. The company also aims to develop unmanned vehicle products for global markets, driving large-scale adoption worldwide.