On the afternoon of December 26 (Beijing Time), a groundbreaking moment unfolded as JD Logistics' drone executed its inaugural overseas test flight in Saudi Arabia. This milestone event signified the first-ever utilization of drones for cargo transportation on foreign soil by the company.

The test flight featured an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) fixed-wing drone, a marvel of engineering that combines the convenience of vertical take-off and landing with the automatic retraction of its rotors. Boasting a maximum payload capacity of 10 kilograms, this cutting-edge drone slashed the delivery time for a 15-kilometer route from over an hour, typically required by traditional vehicles, to a mere 15 minutes.

The implementation of the 'human-machine collaboration' model, which seamlessly integrates drone delivery with the personalized touch of courier-provided door-to-door service, not only alleviates the physical strain on couriers but also significantly boosts transportation efficiency. Looking ahead, JD Logistics is poised to further enhance and expand its drone-based overseas service capabilities, thereby providing robust support for 'last-mile' delivery operations on the global stage.