DiDi(US:DIDIY) 3 6 Ke·2026-03-03 11:18Core Insights - The article discusses the completion of a Series B funding round by Kaal Power, raising over $100 million (approximately 680 million RMB) led by Horizon Robotics and Gao Rong Capital, with total funding now nearing 2 billion RMB [1][6]. Company Overview - Kaal Power was established in February 2021, initially incubated by Didi, and focuses on autonomous logistics, having achieved commercial operations for large-scale trunk logistics in certain regions of China [3][5]. - The company’s predecessor was Didi's autonomous freight project "KargoBot," which became independent after receiving over 450 million RMB in angel funding in 2023 [5]. Funding and Investment - The recent funding will primarily be used to accelerate the large-scale deployment of autonomous trunk freight, with plans to deploy 1,000 autonomous trucks within the year [4][7]. - Kaal Power has completed four funding rounds, with significant investments from various entities, including local state-owned enterprises and venture capital firms [6][11]. Business Strategy and Operations - The company aims to create a smart transportation system combining "transport robots + logistics operating systems" to build a comprehensive intelligent transportation network [7]. - Kaal Power has already deployed over 400 autonomous trucks, accumulating over 35 million kilometers in operational mileage across more than 10 provinces, claiming to be the first in the industry to achieve a commercial closed loop for autonomous trunk freight [11]. Market Potential - The logistics sector is seen as having less resistance to autonomous technology compared to passenger vehicles, with fixed routes and a pressing need for cost reduction making it a promising area for commercialization [9][10]. - The market for autonomous freight (Robotruck) is projected to be as significant as that for autonomous taxis (Robotaxi), with rapid development in commercialization [11].