China's self-developed Antarctic vehicle travels over 10,000 km

China's self-developed Snow Leopard 6×6 wheeled vehicle recently completed extreme environment testing in the Antarctic interior, traveling more than 10,000 km with zero failures, China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team said on Tuesday.

A drone photo taken on Dec. 5, 2025 shows research icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2 (front) conducting China's 42nd Antarctic expedition. (Photo by Chen Dongbin/Xinhua)

From Dec. 5 last year to early February this year, the red Antarctic vehicle conducted a series of tests at China's Zhongshan Station research base and in five typical Antarctic inland terrain areas, where it encountered sea ice, gravel, soft snow, hard snow and solid ice.

The successful verification of this vehicle has filled an equipment gap in terms of China's rapid ground personnel transportation, scientific research support and emergency rescue capabilities in Antarctica, according to the team.

（Xinhua）