Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing launched its electric car sharing platform with 12 automakers, including BYD, local partners of Ford and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance.
The network of strategic partners includes 12 top automakers including Chinese electric carmaker BAIC BJEV, BYD, Ford partners Changan Automobile Group and Zotye Automobile, Chery Automobile Group, Dongfeng Passenger Vehicle, First Auto Works, Geely Auto, Hawtai Motor, JAC Motors, KIA Motors and Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi.
App-based on-demand car-sharing is increasingly an important complement to car ownership. According to a study by GM Insights, the global car-sharing market is expected to grow 34% annually from 2017 to 2024, while the annual growth rate in China will exceed 40%. The first generation of large-scale, electric car-sharing platforms are expected to materialize in core emerging countries such as China.
DiDi hopes to leverage on its AI strengths and national network to empower the entire automotive industry chain. The company’s world-leading data analytics capabilities enable smarter network management based on dynamic understanding of user distribution and attributes. Under the partnership, DiDi will open its platform to automakers’ own sharing services. The platform will introduce to individuals and corporate partners not only diversified models from automakers, but also auto-related finance and insurance services.
In addition to automakers, DiDi will also work closely with other car-sharing services, rental companies, infrastructure operators and after-sales service providers. DiDi believes the new program will reduce cost and enhance efficiency for the entire industry chain by integrating resources from cars, capital, parking spaces, charging points and refueling stations, to auto-maintenance and repair services in a new, open ecosystem of collaboration.