Chinese on-demand delivery leader Meituan has achieved a significant milestone with the approval of its self-developed fourth-generation drone by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This marks the company’s receipt of China’s first nationwide operating certificate for low-altitude logistics, paving the way for broader drone delivery services across the country.
Engineered to withstand extreme weather conditions, the new drone is capable of operating in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 50°C. It is also designed to function in moderate rain, snow, winds up to level 6, and low-light environments—conditions that reportedly encompass over 97% of China’s urban areas. This robust design ensures the drone can deliver goods reliably, regardless of challenging weather.
Meituan’s drone program began in 2017, and by the end of 2024, the company had completed more than 450,000 commercial drone deliveries across 53 routes in major Chinese cities, including Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing. These deliveries span a wide array of locations, such as office parks, campuses, scenic areas, and public libraries.
According to ARK Invest’s Big Ideas 2025 report, Meituan’s total commercial drone delivery volume now ties with Google’s Wing, making the two companies co-leaders in the global drone logistics market.
