Meituan eyes mapping, driverless vehicles to cut delivery costs

Meituan, China's fourth-largest internet-based services firm in terms of market capitalization, is betting on high-definition maps to reduce reliance on deliverymen and drive unmanned services to further bolster its vast business.

A group buying and dining platform with 320 million active users and more than 4 million merchants, Meituan offers a range of services spanning from online food delivery to ride-hailing.

A former Meituan employee who sought anonymity said it has been several years since the firm started to develop mapping services.