Introduction

At 4 a.m. on April 17, Shenyang’s spring street cleaning campaign officially commenced. While the city slumbered, a fleet of 12 L4-level autonomous sweeping vehicles, the S6 models, quietly activated on the main roads of Tiexi District. These driverless sanitation vehicles operate without human intervention or steering wheels, working continuously for 8 hours and remaining on standby 24/7. Their efficiency is nearly triple that of traditional manual labor. Since March 23, these “intelligent newcomers” have officially joined Shenyang’s sanitation team, marking China’s first fully structured, all-scenario autonomous sanitation operation.

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(For further reading, please click: ‘12 WeRide Autonomous Sweeping Vehicles Hit the Roads in Shenyang! Zhonghuanjie’s ‘AI + Urban Services’ New Model: The Country’s First Fully Structured, All-Scenario Autonomous Sanitation Application Project’)

I. Why ‘Sweep’? The Surface and Core of Spring in Northern Cities

Shenyang’s annual spring cleanup is far from a superficial effort—it tackles real, pressing challenges.

After enduring months of sub-zero temperatures (dipping as low as -20°C to -30°C), repeated freeze-thaw cycles, erosion from snowmelt agents, and scraping from snow shovels, Shenyang’s roads suffer significant wear and tear throughout winter.

Come spring, pavement cracks, potholes, manhole cover subsidence, and curb damage become glaring issues. These not only mar the city’s appearance but also pose safety hazards for travelers.

That’s why every spring, Shenyang launches a comprehensive “spring cleanup.” This year, however, the approach is radically different.

Traditionally, the cleanup relied on “manual + mechanical” methods, with sanitation workers wielding brooms and operating water trucks to clear debris piece by piece.

This year, Shenyang’s Urban Management and Law Enforcement Bureau adopted a new strategy: “mechanized joint operations + intelligent equipment empowerment + manual precision cleaning.”

In simpler terms: Use machines where possible, leverage intelligence where feasible, and reserve human effort for delicate tasks beyond machine capabilities.

Starting April 17, large sweeping vehicles lead early-morning operations, performing “mechanical sweeping, flushing, brushing, and watering” on key areas such as primary and secondary streets, bridges, commercial districts, and “three stations and one field” across the city.

During the day, operations shift to side streets and sidewalks, with small equipment and high-pressure water guns providing “deep cleaning” for blind spots.

Even “urban furniture”—bus shelters, railings, and waste bins—are included in the cleanup scope.

This is no ordinary street sweeping; it’s a “full-body cleanse + beauty treatment” for the entire city.

And the centerpiece of this initiative? The debut of autonomous sweeping vehicles.

II. 12 ‘Iron Brooms’: From ‘Park Toys’ to ‘Main Road Productivity’

On March 23, 12 S6 autonomous sweeping vehicles officially “took their posts” in Tiexi District.

These are the world’s first mass-produced L4-level autonomous sweeping vehicles, with 12 deployed in a single project covering Tiexi’s main streets—a first in China, fully structured, all-scenario, and main-road focused.

These three keywords signify a major milestone: The autonomous sanitation industry has transitioned from “able to run” to “able to use,” from “demonstration” to “operation.”

What does the S6 look like? Equipped with a multi-sensor fusion system (LiDAR, high-definition vision, and millimeter-wave radar), it offers 360-degree blind-spot-free perception.

It autonomously plans routes, intelligently avoids obstacles, and accurately sweeps along edges. Its functions include sweeping, high-pressure flushing, and watering for dust suppression. It operates continuously for 8 hours, supports 24-hour cyclic operations, and automatically returns for refueling, charging, and waste disposal—all without manual intervention.

Chen Liyuan, General Manager of Zhonghuanjie, put it aptly: “This marks the official transition of autonomous sanitation from past demonstrations in park squares and secondary road trials to the ‘real road, real operation, real replacement’ stage on urban main roads.”

Data backs this up: After S6 deployment, vehicle utilization increased by 40%, operation duration by 50%, automatic resupply efficiency by 30%, and energy consumption decreased by 20%.

A single autonomous sweeping vehicle’s operational efficiency is nearly triple that of traditional manual sweeping.

While a sanitation worker can sweep for 8 hours a day, the S6 operates 24/7.

III. Not ‘Machine Replacing Humans,’ but ‘Machine Assisting Humans’

At this point, you might wonder: Are sanitation workers facing layoffs?

The answer: Quite the opposite.

Shenyang’s approach this time isn’t about “layoffs” but about “division of labor.”

Large sweeping vehicles handle main-road cleanups, autonomous vehicles manage regular, high-intensity continuous operations, and humans focus on precision cleaning and blind spots “machines can’t handle.” The three complement rather than replace each other.

The deeper logic? Freeing humans from “high-risk, high-intensity, and monotonous” tasks.

How tough is a sanitation worker’s job? They rise by 3 or 4 a.m., endure frostbite in winter and sunburn in summer. Working on fast lanes, a single mistake can be life-threatening. Young people shy away from these roles, leaving mostly middle-aged and elderly workers.

Autonomous sweeping vehicles tackle the dirtiest, most tiring, and most dangerous tasks. What do humans do? They oversee supervision, scheduling, precision cleaning, and equipment maintenance—tasks that are not only safer but also more “technically demanding.”

This mirrors the Industrial Revolution: Spinning machines didn’t eliminate textile workers but transformed them from “operating sewing machines” to “operating machines.” Jobs were upgraded, not eliminated.

IV. The ‘Cost-Reduction Logic’ Behind 12.6 Billion: Why This Is the ‘Eve of Explosion’?

Shenyang’s “pioneering” move is no accident—it aligns with an industry explosion point.

Soochow Securities’ latest report provides key data:

By 2025, the total value of autonomous sanitation projects awarded nationwide will exceed 12.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of over 150%, involving approximately 1,300 autonomous sanitation devices. Guangdong Province alone accounts for 41% of projects.

By March 15, 2026, 288 autonomous sanitation devices had already been awarded, a year-on-year increase of 102.8% (doubling the previous year). Among them, 56% serve “sanitation + autonomous driving” pilot projects.

(For further reading, please click: ‘Autonomous Sanitation Vehicles Are the Largest Application Scenario for Autonomous Driving. Recommendations: Jinlv Environment, Yutong Heavy Industries, Fulongma, Yuhe Tian, Yingfeng Environment, Qiaoyin Co., Ltd.’)

Why the sudden explosion? Because costs now make sense.

Soochow Securities estimates that the current whole-vehicle cost of a small-tonnage autonomous sanitation device is approximately 450,000 yuan, with software algorithm amortization alone accounting for 300,000 yuan. However, with mass production, domestic substitutions (e.g., replacing imported chips with domestic ones), and R&D cost amortization, costs are expected to drop to 170,000–180,000 yuan within 1–2 years—a nearly 60% reduction.

When an autonomous sweeping vehicle costs under 200,000 yuan and can replace three sanitation workers (each costing 60,000–80,000 yuan annually), the payback period is two years—a calculation any sanitation company would embrace.

This is the classic “demand driven by cost reduction” logic—not buying because the technology is cool, but because it saves money.

V. Insights from the Shenyang Model: Smart Cities Are About ‘Cost-Benefit Analysis,’ Not ‘Showcasing Technology’

Shenyang’s approach offers three key insights for other cities:

Insight 1: From ‘Demonstration’ to ‘Regular Operation,’ the Key Lies in ‘Real Use.’

Many cities’ autonomous sanitation projects remain stuck in “a few demonstration roads” and “showing off to leaders.”

Shenyang’s Tiexi project, with 12 vehicles covering main roads, transitioned directly to “regular operation” in the spring initiative after just one month.

“Real road, real operation, real replacement”—these three “reals” are where the value lies.

Insight 2: Technology + Management, a Dual-Wheel Drive, Both Are Indispensable.

Shenyang didn’t stop at purchasing 12 vehicles.

The matching “Autonomous Driving Operation and Management Platform” and AI inspection technology are the real “brains.”

From problem detection to platform scheduling and quality acceptance, the “perception-decision-execution-optimization” process is seamless. Each vehicle’s driving trajectories, operational status, energy consumption data, and road cleanliness are fed in real-time into the city’s digital governance network.

This is called “transforming from ‘dirty governance’ to ‘smart management.’”

Insight 3: Northern Cities’ ‘Freeze-Thaw Damage,’ Southern Cities’ ‘High-Temperature Roast’—Different Scenarios, Same Logic.

Shenyang’s spring tackles “freeze-thaw damage,” while southern cities’ summers tackle “rapid decay under high temperatures.”

But the core logic remains the same: Using intelligent equipment to solve problems humans can’t handle, handle well, or handle safely.

If Shenyang can make it work, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Chengdu can too—they just need to adapt to local climates and road conditions.

In Short:

Here Comes the Autonomous Vehicles (WeChat Official Account: Here Comes the Autonomous Vehicles) believes:

As autonomous sweeping vehicles pass by the China Industrial Museum, this building—a witness to a century of Shenyang’s history—may silently observe the scene.

A century ago, this was a factory filled with the roar of machine tools, manufacturing New China’s first national emblem.

A century later, this is the starting point of intelligent manufacturing, where “Iron Men” guard the city’s cleanliness.

This is Shenyang—a city always evolving, always reinventing itself.

What do you think, dear?

References: Reports from Shenyang Daily, Shenyang Traffic Radio, Tiexi Daily, Liaoning Evening News, and other media outlets

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