SANY Plans Mass Production of 1+4 Autonomous Truck System

By Jony Shekhawat | Published Date : January 10, 2026

The new 1+4 system keeps a human driver in control while using technology to run multiple trucks together.

A Chinese company has come up with a new way to run trucks on the road. This new technology will add a new evolution to the commercial vehicle industry. Using this technique, the driver will run only one truck and rest 4 truck will follow the first truck. This setup is known as the 1+4 platooning system.

SANY is a well-known Chinese company that is a big truck manufacturing company. SANY claims that they are ready to launch such an autonomous truck on a commercial level. If this plan will be succesful, these trucks will run shortly on the road.

What Is Different About This Truck Technology

Table of Contents

1. What Is Different About This Truck Technology

2. Why SANY Chose This Model

3. Big Cost Saving for Transport Business

4. Electric Power Makes It Even Better

5. Practical Solution for Today’s Roads

Also Read: JSW Motors Names Amit Jain as Chief Commercial Officer

This system is not full self-driving. That is the main difference. A real driver sits in the front of the truck and stays in control. The four trucks behind move automatically by copying the first truck.

They follow the same speed, same turns and same braking. Because one human is still in charge, the system feels safer and easier to manage. It also avoids many legal problems that fully driverless trucks face.

Why SANY Chose This Model

SANY worked with a technology company called Pony.ai for this project. Pony.ai helps with the software and control system. Instead of removing the driver completely, SANY decided to keep the driver and use technology only where needed.

Many countries are still not ready for fully driverless trucks. This model gives a middle path. It brings automation but keeps human control.

Big Cost Saving for Transport Business

During trial runs, this system showed strong results. The cost of moving goods per kilometer dropped by about 29 percent. At the same time, company profit went up by nearly 195 percent.

For businesses using dumpers, electric truck fleets, or long truck routes, this can be a big change. One driver doing the work of five trucks also helps solve the driver shortage problem.

Accident risk is also lower because the following trucks move in a fixed line and do not react randomly.

Electric Power Makes It Even Better

These trucks are fully electric. Each truck comes with a large 400 kWh battery. The battery can be swapped quickly. So instead of waiting for charging, the battery can be changed and the truck can move again.

The trucks have cameras, radar and sensors. They can see traffic, roadblocks and nearby vehicles. They have already passed tests in very hot weather, extreme cold and tough conditions.

This system can later be used in other vehicles too, like mini trucks and pickup truck models that run on fixed routes.

Practical Solution for Today’s Roads

While some companies are struggling with full self-driving rules, SANY’s idea looks more usable. One human driver stays in control, which builds trust. This system is best for ports, mining areas, fixed cargo routes and industrial zones. Electric dumpers and electric trucks can benefit the most.

SANY says this step is part of its clean and digital plan. With electric trucks, simple automation and lower costs, this technology may slowly change how transport works.

Also Read: New Lucknow Plant To Produce Electric Buses And Strengthen Ashok Leyland Trucks

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Frequently Asked Questions on Commercial Vehicles

Q1. What is platooning in commercial vehicles?

Ans. Platooning means multiple trucks move together in a group, where one lead vehicle controls speed and direction for the others.

Q2. Are electric trucks suitable for long routes?

Ans. Electric trucks are mainly used on fixed and short routes today, but battery and charging improvements are making longer use possible.

Q3. What are mini trucks commonly used for?

Ans. Mini trucks are mostly used for city deliveries, small business transport, and short-distance goods movement.

Q4. Why are pickup trucks popular in commercial use?

Ans. Pickup trucks are popular because they are easy to drive, cost less to maintain, and work well for mixed city and highway use.

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