On March 21, the Finance and Economics Committee of China Shenzhen Municipal Committee held an enlarged meeting. The meeting emphasized the need to accelerate the deployment of digital and intelligent infrastructure, upgrade traditional infrastructure through digital transformation, and take a leading position in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and low-altitude aviation. It also called for stronger support and encouragement for private investment in these sectors.
Shenzhen’s robotics industry has developed a comprehensive industrial chain covering industrial, service, specialized, and humanoid robots. Companies like EngineAI and UBTECH are leading the humanoid robotics market, while manufacturing giants such as BYD, Foxconn Industrial Internet, and Luxshare Precision Industry are driving the increasing adoption of industrial robots.
As a global electronics manufacturing hub, Shenzhen holds a distinct advantage, particularly in humanoid robotics. More than 90% of key enterprises have achieved high localization, with the industry and supply chain localization rates exceeding 60%. In Nanshan District, within a 10-kilometer radius, robots can be designed and mass-produced in a closed-loop system.
This March, Shenzhen launched four major policy documents, aiming to grow the city’s AI terminal industry to 1 trillion yuan within three years. The city plans to cultivate robotics enterprises valued at over 10 billion yuan and support more than 20 companies with annual revenues exceeding 1 billion yuan, further expanding the intelligent robotics cluster, which already includes over 1,200 related enterprises.
The first wave of transformation in the automobile industry—electrification—has already been validated. Now, the second wave—intelligentization—is on the horizon. As the competition intensifies, Shenzhen is determined to lead the charge in next-generation intelligent technologies.
Autonomous driving’s ultimate goal is full driverless mobility. Unlike electrification, which reshaped the automotive supply chain, driverless technology redefines transportation itself. It involves not just vehicles but also their interactions with people, roads, other vehicles, and cloud-based systems.
Shenzhen-based companies such as RoboSense, DEEPROUTE.AI, and MINIEYE have taken leading positions in this sector, excelling in perception equipment, autonomous driving algorithms, and real-world applications.
Last year, Shenzhen was among the first cities selected for the vehicle-road-cloud integration pilot program by China’s five national ministries and commissions. The city expanded its autonomous driving test roads by 1,162 kilometers, bringing the total to 2,000 kilometers. It also issued 435 new test permits, totaling 1,137.
While robots and drones are driving ground-level innovation, Shenzhen’s low-altitude economy is unlocking new opportunities in three-dimensional urban development.
From the spectacular 10,000-drone performances at Bijia Mountain to drone deliveries on Lotus Hill and AED drone deployments in country parks, drones are increasingly integrated into urban life in Shenzhen.
Shenzhen dominates the global drone market, with its consumer drones accounting for 70% and industrial drones 50% of total market share. The city is home to over 1,700 drone-related enterprises, including industry leaders DJI and Fyuav. In core technology, Shenzhen has integrated 5G, millimeter-wave, and satellite communications to establish a sub-120-meter integrated air and space safety network. This infrastructure supports precise positioning and data transmission for over 100,000 drones while advancing research in low-altitude vehicles, battery technology, and flight control systems.
At the end of last year, the Shenzhen Low Altitude Economy Standardization Technical Committee held its first plenary meeting. The Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Transportation and the Shenzhen Municipal Administration of Market Supervision jointly released the Guidelines for the Construction of Shenzhen’s Low-Altitude Economy Standard System (V1.0), marking a significant step toward industry standardization, public safety, and industrial synergy.
Beyond individual industries, Shenzhen’s forward-looking strategies are reshaping the entire urban landscape. As robots enter households, autonomous driving transforms commuting, and drone networks expand across the skyline, the city’s innovation-driven approach is propelling new urban development dynamics.
Source: Xinhua, sznews, sina
