The Chinese city of Hefei launched a pilot programme to deliver vehicle licence plates by drone, allowing new energy vehicle (NEV) buyers to register and drive away the same day they purchase their car.
The process normally requires days of waiting or queuing at a government office.
State broadcaster CCTV followed one such delivery over the weekend, reporting that the drone completed the flight in just seven minutes.
The drone departed from the Hefei Public Security Bureau’s vehicle and driver management office at 11:35 a.m. and arrived at a local vehicle experience center after just over seven minutes of flight, according to CCTV.
Staff retrieved the plates from the drone’s cargo bay, verified the details with the buyer, and fitted them to the new vehicle on-site.
The service is currently limited to new energy vehicles in the pilot phase.
The Hefei traffic authority said the pilot will initially operate from the vehicle management office to selected NEV retail locations, with plans to expand the number of routes and destinations based on demand.
Why Hefei
The pilot is the latest example of Hefei positioning itself as China’s most aggressive city for low-altitude economy applications.
The city launched its “Low-Altitude 20 Measures” action plan in 2023, targeting drone logistics routes, commercial eVTOL air taxi services, and a city-wide unmanned flight management system.
The Anhui provincial capital — often described as the country’s “drone capital” — has deployed unmanned aerial vehicles for food delivery, blood supply transport to hospitals, and public safety surveillance.
More than 110 low-altitude economy companies now operate in Hefei, forming what local officials describe as an integrated cluster spanning research, manufacturing, operations, and services.
Auto Plants in Hefei
Hefei is simultaneously one of China’s most important new energy vehicle production hubs, home to six vehicle manufacturers that have turned the Anhui provincial capital into a city where roughly one NEV rolls off an assembly line every minute.
Nio operates two EV plants in the city where it produces vehicles across its three brands: the premium Nio marque, the family-oriented Onvo, and the cheaper sub-brand Firefly.
The company’s millionth vehicle rolled off the Factory Two line on January 6.
Nio‘s global headquarters are in Shanghai, but Hefei is where its vehicles are built, and the Hefei government was an early and crucial investor in the company during its 2019 cash crisis.
BYD Co. opened its Hefei plant in 2022 after just 10 months of construction.
The factory produces models across BYD’s Dynasty, Ocean, and other series with the maximum output of 1.32 million units.
Volkswagen Group established its largest research and development centre outside Germany in Hefei, investing approximately 2.5 billion euros in a facility spanning more than 100 laboratories for testing batteries, electric drivetrains, and complete vehicle systems.
The centre has cut VW‘s development cycle for new vehicles by roughly 30%, according to the company.
Volkswagen Anhui, the German automaker’s local joint venture, also manufactures electric vehicles in the city.
JAC Group, the state-owned Anhui automaker, has deep roots in Hefei and has served as Nio’s contract manufacturing partner until the end of 2023.
Changan Automobile and bus maker Ankai also operate production facilities in Hefei.
In 2025, Hefei produced approximately 1.2 million new energy vehicles, ranking first among Chinese cities.
More than 500 companies across the NEV supply chain — spanning batteries, electronic controls, and key components — now operate in the city, with a local parts matching rate of roughly 35%.
