On June 25, the latest news regarding Huolala’s “car manufacturing” project was revealed.
According to media reports, Huolala’s subsidiary, Dora Auto, will officially launch its first exclusive product, an all-electric van, in July. Notably, this electric van is produced by Changan Kuyu, and is positioned as a vehicle “designed for logistics users and tailored for cargo scenarios.” Huolala’s representatives have stated that the company aims to enhance vehicle usability and safety through human-centric design and smart features, ultimately improving freight efficiency.
According to information released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Huolala’s first model, the “Dora Bafang,” features a practical and square design. The front of the vehicle is equipped with a vertical matrix-style LED light set, integrating lens lighting and a dual-mode daylight running light source. The closed grille and matte black trim panels not only create a strong industrial visual impact but also provide good lighting in nighttime or harsh weather conditions, ensuring driving safety. In terms of size, the Dora Bafang measures 5095/1870/1990mm, with a wheelbase of 3300mm. It has a boxy structure, with a single sliding door on the left side and a 270-degree outward-swing tailgate, facilitating fast loading and unloading of goods.
For power, the Dora Bafang is equipped with a 94kW drive motor, and the battery suppliers are from Yiwei Power, CATL, or BYD Fudi. The battery capacity ranges from 41.86 to 43.53kWh, with a CLTC range of 300-305 km, meeting the daily delivery needs of urban environments and reducing range anxiety for drivers.
Though it’s a logistics vehicle, the Dora Bafang is also equipped with smart technology. Its cargo compartment features a dual-mode sensing system with lidar and millimeter-wave radar, supporting automatic parking, collision prevention alerts, reducing accident risks during loading and unloading, and enhancing operational precision and safety. The vehicle’s connectivity module integrates Huolala’s dispatch system, enabling full-process digitalization from order acceptance, route planning to electronic signature. Drivers can receive real-time order information via the built-in intelligent terminal, and the system will plan the optimal delivery route based on real-time traffic conditions. After completing the delivery, drivers can directly sign electronically, greatly improving logistics efficiency and information flow.
Huolala is an internet logistics platform developed by Shenzhen Yishi Huolala Technology Co., Ltd. It was officially launched on October 21, 2013, and offers services such as same-city, inter-city freight, enterprise logistics, moving, errand services, cold chain, less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping, car rental, and after-market services. The platform integrates social transport resources through a sharing model, completing massive transport capacity reserves, and utilizes mobile internet, big data, and AI technology to create a “convenient, tech-driven, and reliable” freight platform. It enables real-time intelligent dispatching for a variety of vehicle models, offering efficient logistics solutions for individuals, businesses, and enterprises.
As early as May 2021, news of Huolala’s car manufacturing plans began circulating. At that time, the company began recruiting professionals in fields like new energy vehicle manufacturing to complete the logistics chain and the digitalization of vehicles. Although Huolala’s official stance was initially unclear, this series of actions indicated its firm intention to enter the automotive industry. In July 2022, the Chongqing High-tech Industrial Development Zone Management Committee announced that Huolala plans to invest 10.5 billion RMB to set up its Chinese headquarters for car manufacturing in the Chongqing High-Tech Zone. The plan included constructing vehicle research institutes, intelligent connected centers, supply chain hubs, and manufacturing collaboration centers, which further confirmed Huolala’s car manufacturing project. In April 2023, Huolala added new energy vehicle sales to its business registration and officially addressed the car manufacturing rumors, clarifying its plans to develop electric commercial vehicles.
Currently, Huolala has launched an official account for “Huolala Dora Auto,” with “Beijing Jiche Technology Co., Ltd.” as the certified entity and the trademark “Huolala” protected. The company has released several articles related to its car manufacturing efforts. Over the past year, information about Dora Auto’s first all-electric van, the “Dora Bafang,” has been consistently revealed. In June of this year, the “Dora Bafang” was officially listed in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s filing catalog, marking an important milestone in the progress of Huolala’s car manufacturing project.
Why is Huolala entering the car manufacturing industry? According to its prospectus, Huolala expects to achieve a revenue of $1.593 billion in 2024, with an adjusted profit of $501 million and a gross margin of 57.8%. At present, Huolala’s business model revolves around acquiring driver resources at low cost, creating a supply and dispatch capability through high-frequency orders, and generating stable revenue by charging drivers. However, this profit model, which highly depends on charging the driver side, has seen diminishing returns in the domestic market and is facing challenges related to growth limitations.
By manufacturing vehicles, Huolala can integrate its own vehicles into the platform’s operating system, establishing a three-dimensional binding relationship between vehicles, orders, and people. This integration would allow Huolala to achieve a more sustainable growth model in terms of revenue structure. Furthermore, Huolala could generate additional income through selling and renting vehicles, offering vehicle loans, providing charging and battery swapping services, mining data value, and even developing new services like insurance and advertising on its vehicles.
Through car manufacturing, Huolala can integrate its existing platform and services, creating a more complete closed-loop and seizing the core resource of logistics — vehicles — thereby significantly enhancing its competitiveness in the logistics industry. The massive data and user insights accumulated by Huolala in the logistics field will also help the company better understand driver behavior and habits, guiding vehicle design and feature configurations to meet market demands. For Huolala, car manufacturing is not just a natural innovation but a proactive step to ensure its future, offering more possibilities while betting on long-term success.
