Overview
Neolix, the global leader in Level‑4 autonomous logistics, used the inaugural LEAP East 2026 exhibition in Hong Kong (8–10 July) to underscore its commercial momentum in what it terms Physical AI. The event, organized by Tahaluf and jointly convened by Hong Kong’s Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, brings together the Gulf and Asia‑Pacific innovation corridors at a time when Gulf–Asia trade has reached record levels.
Deployment Scale
Neolix reported that it has deployed more than 25,000 proprietary RoboVans across over 300 cities in more than 15 countries, accumulating approximately 200 million autonomous kilometres. In several cities, single‑city fleets exceed 2,000 vehicles, illustrating the company’s claim of having one of the largest commercial autonomous delivery fleets worldwide.
Operational Impact
According to the release, deployments with global retailers have reduced fulfillment lead times from six hours to two hours while delivering a significant reduction in delivery costs, though exact cost‑saving percentages were not disclosed. The company argues that logistics, unlike humanoid robots or robotaxis, offers B2B routes with clearly measurable ROI, enabling a transition from pilot projects to scalable production.
Middle‑East Focus
Neolix highlighted the United Arab Emirates as a primary proving ground for its technology, citing real‑world quick‑commerce and urban logistics use cases at commercial scale. Saudi Arabia is identified as the next strategic market, with plans to enter through local partnerships. Zhao emphasized that the regional question has shifted from feasibility to the speed of scaling.
Robotics‑as‑a‑Service (RaaS) Model
The firm introduced its RaaS offering, which allows multiple retailers and logistics operators to share a single autonomous fleet across different routes and time windows. This model is intended to improve fleet utilization, lower per‑vehicle costs, and make Physical AI accessible to mid‑sized businesses, which Zhao described as the sector’s “Uber moment.”
Executive Commentary
Will Zhao, Executive President of Neolix, delivered two headline sessions at LEAP East: “Autonomous Everything: The Dawn of Physical AI” on the Main Stage and “Unmanned & Autonomous: The Emergence of Physical AI in Transportation” on the Orbital Stage. He stated that Physical AI will scale first in logistics because goods move in high‑frequency, measurable, ROI‑driven networks, and that trust in the technology is built through demonstrable results rather than promises.
Strategic Outlook
Zhao concluded that Hong Kong sits at the intersection of deep manufacturing and operational capabilities in China and Southeast Asia, capital and demand from the Gulf, and consumer market standards, making international collaboration essential for building the infrastructure that will support the next generation of logistics.