AdvertisementRoboticsEconomyChina EconomyIn China, delivery robots now ride the subway to restock 7-Eleven storesThe project, reportedly the first of its kind in the world, will see robots ride subway trains to deliver goods to more than 100 stores across ShenzhenReading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMP15He HuifenginGuangdongPublished:5:01pm, 15 Jul 2025Subway trains across the southern Chinese megacity of Shenzhen welcomed an unusual new set of passengers on Monday, as the city deployed a fleet of delivery robots to restock convenience stores scattered around its subway system.AdvertisementDozens of squat delivery robots have now begun riding subway trains across the network during off-peak hours, exiting at each station where a 7-Eleven is located to make deliveries, according to a report by local news outlet SZNews.The project is the first of its kind in the world and marks the latest step in Shenzhenspush to expand the use of robotsfrom the factory floor to other areas of urban life, the report said.The metre-tall robots operated by a logistics subsidiary of the Chinese property giant Vanke, which is part-owned by Shenzhen metro are capable of autonomously riding lifts, entering and exiting platforms, boarding trains and delivering goods to 7-Eleven stores across the city, according to SZNews.The 41 robots reportedly caused a stir during their first day on the job, as passengers gathered around them to snap photos as they lined up inside the carriages. But the project is not simply a public relations stunt; it aims to solve a long-standing logistical problem faced by retail outlets inside Shenzhens subway stations.AdvertisementIn the past, delivery workers had to park above ground, unload goods, and manually push them into subway stations, Li Yanyan, a manager at one of the 7-Eleven stores involved in the project, told SZNews. Now, with robots, its much easier and more convenient.Advertisement