THE coronavirus has hurt many companies in China and around the world. Neolix, a driverless delivery business based in Beijing, isn’t among them — in fact, it’s seen a jump in demand.

The startup, which has attracted customers including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Meituan Dianping and JD.com Inc., has booked orders for more than 200 vehicles in the past two months. Before then, it had only produced 125 units since manufacturing began last May, founder Yu Enyuan said in an interview.

Amid the virus anxiety that has disrupted businesses and supply chains, China’s push into autonomous transport and the future of delivery is getting an unexpected boost. Neolix’s small vans help customers reduce physical contact and address labor shortages caused by quarantines and travel restrictions.

Neolix’s inventories have been depleted during the epidemic as its vehicles have been used to deliver medical supplies in hospitals, including in Wuhan. Its vans are also being used to help disinfect streets and move food to people who are working on the front lines to curb the spread of the virus, Yu said.

“Demand has been surging since the virus outbreak and more importantly, people’s perception toward driverless delivery had a complete 180-degree shift,” Yu said. “People realize that such vehicles can get things done when it is risky for a human being to do so.”

Local authorities in China are offering incentives to fund purchase and operation of driverless delivery vans in their jurisdictions for up to 60 percent of the tag price, according to Yu. The government subsidies will speed up promotion of the vehicles, according to the company, which expects to sell 1,000 units this year.

“The industry has entered into a fast expansion phase because of the virus,” Yu said.

The development of autonomous vans is accelerating not only in China. Delivery robot company Nuro Inc., Neolix’s rival in the U.S., won the first U.S. federal safety approval for a purpose-built, self-driving vehicle last month, paving the way for its plans to deliver groceries autonomously in neighborhoods. (SD-Agencies)