Integrated mobility and autonomous technologies: Operational efficiency and policy pathways for China’s low-altitude economy

As a strategic component of integrated mobility systems, China’s low-altitude economy is rapidly emerging but faces challenges in operational efficiency evaluation and policy optimization amid autonomous technology advancements. This study measures provincial and regional operational efficiency from 2008 to 2024 using the RDM-SBM-DEA model, which accommodates zero/negative data, and employs the XGBoost-SHAP framework to explore nonlinear relationships between input-output variables and efficiency, with a focus on integrated mobility and autonomous technology implications. Results show an average efficiency of 0.7889, indicating a moderately high overall level; however, it declined by 11.48% over the period, with significant “East-Strong and West-Weak” regional disparities Key findings include: (i) The industrial added value ratio (Y3) acts as the primary positive driver, while autonomous technology-related inputs (e.g., the number of permitted UAV enterprises (X2)) and (general aviation airports (X5)) negatively impact efficiency due to market fragmentation and cost pressures; (ii) Flight service stations (X6) and patent numbers (Y2, proxying autonomous R&D) exhibit synergistic effects under specific thresholds, highlighting the need for coordinated infrastructure-technology integration; (iii) Policy simulations reveal that differentiated regional strategies, such as prioritizing autonomous technology adoption in the Eastern and targeted infrastructure investment in the Southwest, can mitigate inefficiencies. This study provides actionable insights for aligning low-altitude mobility with integrated transport networks and autonomous technology policies, supporting sustainable growth in the new mobility era.