The Chinese ride-sharing platform Didi Chuxing and the state-owned automaker BAIC Group announced their strategic partnership in the field of new-energy-vehicle sharing services. Didi said in the event that it would build an “open new energy car-sharing system,” which would allow the members to use vehicles on demand through an app-based system.
Reports confirmed that Didi’s engaged in the partnership because it was looking forward to the possibility of supplying all-electric battery car models for Didi’s new service. The alliance is expected to explore broader business opportunities for both companies in the field of new energy vehicle sharing services.
Didi is excited to partner with BAIC Group to accelerate the development of EV support infrastructure, including [fleet] operation and vehicle charging, shared mobility, new energy vehicle networks and new AI driving technologies are integrally linked to each other. – Cheng Wei, CEO
Didi, which dominates China’s ride-hailing market, has previously announced plans to create a domestic charging network for electric cars. And the firm said that it aimed to have 1 million electric cars on its network by 2020 because Didi had a tie-up with other 12 automobile companies, including Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi.
Benefiting from this win-win cooperation with Didi, BAIC Group will be a bellwether to serve the public with intelligent networking EVs and mobility services. – Xu Heyi, chairman of BAIC
This effort was taken by Didi to lay the groundwork for business expansion in the coming age of car sharing and to move towards electric-driven vehicles.
The global car-sharing market is expected to hit $16.5 billion by 2024, from just $1.2 billion in 2015; according to a report last year, China is expected to experience very fast growth. Since the leading Chinese ride-sharing platform operator opened an artificial intelligence research lab in Beijing earlier this year, it is likely to develop part in Didi’s strategic partnership with China’s No. 2 manufacturer of new-energy vehicles. Even support is also expected from the Beijing municipal government because of the fact that it owns BAIC Group.
