Beijing startup Space Epoch is teaming up with Alibaba Group Holding, a prominent e-commerce giant, to deliver goods within an hour. The collaboration between Alibaba’s Taobao sales channel and the rocket developer is set to take place in the near future, using reusable rockets capable of landing at sea. The rocket, known as XZY-1, will have a cargo compartment of 120 square meters and can carry up to 10 tons of cargo, including items like cars or small trucks.
Amid fierce competition in the e-commerce industry, Alibaba has been enhancing its shipping services. In March, the company introduced its “5-day shipping” service in the US, allowing AliExpress buyers to receive orders within a five-day period, with shipping managed by Cainiao Smart Logistics Network, an Alibaba subsidiary. Cainiao had initially launched the five-day delivery service last year and expanded it to include markets in Germany, France, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico.
Space Epoch was founded in 2019 with the goal of utilizing space resources efficiently and sustainably by developing reusable rockets for civilian needs. The startup has successfully completed three rounds of funding and raised over $41.5 billion from investors such as GSR Vision Capital and Jinsha Capital. By partnering with Space Epoch, Alibaba aims to explore innovative solutions for faster and more efficient delivery services that could potentially revolutionize the logistics industry.
While this ambitious project is exciting for both companies involved in it may face challenges in meeting their short-term goals. However, if successful could change the way we think about logistics forever!
