Dedicated channels have been established for these self-drive commercial vehicles. Since these vehicles have yet to receive license plates, they are typically grouped in sets of five unlicensed cars, guided by a single lead car with a license plate. This lead car is responsible for the group, ensuring they travel in a regulated and orderly manner to prevent potential accidents.

Du said the online appointment system has significantly reduced the workload and stress of drivers who previously had to wait in line offline, while also enhancing the order, efficiency and smoothness of exports.

When it comes to customs clearance, digital technology has significantly streamlined the process. Each vehicle is affixed with a QR code on its windshield that contains core information, including vehicle identification numbers and engine numbers.

"This QR code is like the vehicle's 'e-passport'," said Zhang Yang, an official with Horgos Customs. "In the past, each vehicle required a physical card, forcing exporters to bring customs declarations to the customs hall and line up to input information and produce the card. Now, the entire procedure can be completed via mobile phone."

As commercial vehicles pass through the port gate, smart cameras identify the QR codes. Those exempt from customs inspection are cleared automatically without stopping. With the port now operating 24/7, the clearance time per vehicle has dropped from 20 minutes to around two minutes, boosting overall efficiency by 80 percent.

According to Urumqi Customs District, the self-drive export model has been rolled out at other land ports in Xinjiang, such as Baktu Port in Tacheng prefecture. The innovative measure has been filed with the General Administration of Customs and will soon be promoted nationwide.

Meanwhile, Horgos Port has renovated the vehicle waiting area at the freight site to create direct inspection lanes, requiring only one stop within the restricted area to complete all border inspection procedures. This has cut the time needed from 15 minutes to just five, said Liu Peng, deputy director-general of the frontier inspection general station.

Notably, at seven land ports in Xinjiang — including Horgos — registered Chinese drivers are exempt from having their passports stamped upon verification — a move that extends the usability of a passport from one month to 40 months, said Wang Xianlei, another deputy director-general of the general station.

To meet the passport application needs of drivers involved in the export of commercial vehicles, Horgos' public security bureau has introduced a policy allowing drivers to apply for private passports using supporting documents provided by their employers.

Wu Xiuhua, head of the bureau's exit and entry administration division, said this initiative is designed to further optimize the business environment and facilitate cross-border travel for local residents, benefiting both enterprises and individuals. Wu said 129 passports have been issued under this policy since January 2025.

Since 2023, Wen has witnessed the gradual emergence and expansion of this trade format, as well as its explosive growth last year. With each trip, Wen not only transports vehicles, but also makes an effort to learn some Kazakh and Russian, while accumulating knowledge about Kazakh policies and markets. He expressed hope that one day he will start his own foreign trade business.