China Unveils Shuanglin K7 Driverless Mining Truck with Sideways Mobility in Shanghai

China unveiled the Shuanglin K7 driverless mining truck on April 18, 2026, in Shanghai, showcasing a vehicle designed for exceptional maneuverability in challenging environments. The Shuanglin K7 is a massive driverless mining truck that can crab-walk across difficult terrain, with the ability to move sideways and pivot on the spot.

South China Morning Post reported that this makes it the world’s first driverless mining truck capable of such movements.

Despite a kerb weight of nearly 100 tonnes, the Shuanglin K7 can operate in narrow pits and across complex, sloped roadways. It can perform lateral translation and on-the-spot turns, addressing limitations of traditional mining trucks that take longer to maneuver in tight areas and pose blind-spot risks.

The truck uses a distributed electric drive-by-wire corner module technology, enabling these capabilities.

79 metres long, offering hauling capacity and power for continuous, round-the-clock operation. Science and Technology Daily highlighted these features in a report published on April 19, 2026. South China Morning Post noted that the vehicle was developed through a collaboration between the Shuanglin Group and Tsinghua University.

The Shuanglin Group is a Shanghai-based automotive components manufacturer involved in the project. This collaboration underscores the integration of academic and industrial expertise in creating the Shuanglin K7.