JD.com Inc. said May 25 that it was partnering with electric vehicle company NIO to offer a new in-car delivery service to customers of the online retailer in China.
Users of the service can have parcels deposited in the trunks of their cars while parked at home, the office or other approved areas. Connected car technology will be used to locate vehicles, and authorized delivery personnel will use a specially programmed digital device to open and lock the trunk while dropping off the package, which can be monitored through in-car cameras.
NIO, which develops smart, electric and autonomous vehicles in China, will feature the in-car delivery service as a standard option in its upcoming ES8 model.
JD also plans to team up with other Chinese automakers to expand the service. The Chinese e-commerce giant said its customers with compatible vehicles will be able to connect their JD accounts with those on connected car platforms to use the delivery option.
This follows Amazon's recent launch of a similar service that allows deliveries to be left inside customers' cars.
