Global EV powerhouse BYD has thrown its weight behind Boonray, a Chinese equipment manufacturer, with a $14.5 million investment in the company’s autonomous, battery-swapping electric mining truck. Boonray aims to transform the mining sector by combining zero-emission power with advanced automation.
The startup’s team, composed of scientists from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, has integrated L4-level autonomous driving technology at the vehicle’s core. Boonray has also been developing critical systems for next-generation mines, including AI-powered algorithms and vehicle-by-wire controls.
The progress has impressed BYD, which has committed the funding to accelerate development and bring this futuristic mining solution closer to reality.
Trucks achieve Level 4 operation with unmanned battery swap
As Electrek reports, Boonray claims its autonomous technology now allows mining trucks to operate at Level 4 autonomy, using a combination of onboard sensors and fixed infrastructure like beacons and reference points.
This system supports fully unmanned driving and battery swapping, allowing mines to run continuously while reducing risk to human operators. By integrating both vehicle intelligence and stationary assets, Boonray aims to make 24/7 mining safer and more efficient, pushing the sector closer to fully automated operations.
Furthermore, Boonray’s autonomous solutions are now in use at 30 mining projects across China, tackling a wide range of ore types and challenging operating conditions. The recent investment from BYD not only reflects confidence in Boonray’s continued growth but also highlights broader industry trends. The partnership is also set to deepen close collaboration in technology R&D, supply chain optimization, and the development of products tailored for specific mining scenarios.
The end of 2025 saw domestic sales of electrified heavy-duty trucks surge to 45,300 units, accounting for roughly 54% of China’s total heavy truck market, which sends a clear signal that electric and autonomous technologies are rapidly gaining traction in the country’s industrial transport sector.
Investment in Boonray advances global mining transformation
According to Li Qian, Secretary of the Board and Chief Investment Officer of BYD Group, the company continues to seek and invest in technologies with global impact. Li highlighted Boonray’s full-stack system for autonomous mining and green energy solutions, noting that it addresses operational challenges faced by traditional mines.
He added that Boonray’s technology complements BYD’s expertise in electrification and intelligent systems, making the partnership a natural fit. BYD looks forward to collaborating closely with Boonray to integrate new energy and smart technologies, delivering competitive Chinese solutions that advance the green transformation of the global mining industry.
Boonray recently reported a new milestone in operational efficiency with a fleet of its 160-short-ton BLEB145A1 autonomous mining trucks at a major coal mine in Zhundong, Xinjiang. The company says the trucks set an industry record by completing 200 battery swaps in a single day, highlighting the potential of its autonomous, battery-swapping technology to increase productivity and minimize downtime in large-scale mining operations.