Driverless delivery vehicles launched by China's courier company Cainiao Network delivered nearly 2 million parcels from Nov. 1 to 11, as online sales rose in the run-up to the "Double 11" online shopping festival.

Over 700 driverless delivery vehicles, named "Xiaomanlyu" or "little donkeys," have been making deliveries since Nov. 1 on more than 400 university campuses across China.

Aided by an algorithm, the vehicles can find themselves the most efficient delivery route. Each vehicle can carry about 50 packages at a time and travel 100 kilometers on a single charge.

Initiated in 2009, the once-a-year "Double 11" shopping festival has evolved into one of the most expected shopping festivals in China.

According to the State Post Bureau, China's courier sector handled 4.27 billion parcels from Nov. 1 to 11, and 552 million parcels on Nov. 11 alone.

The bureau said the courier sector is well-prepared for the peak season that may continue until Nov. 20, and the delivery network is running smoothly.