Didi Chuxing, China’s largest ride-hailing platform, has signed a deal with automaker BAIC to develop fleets of new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence-enabled cars, the Financial Times reports.
Didi claims to already have 400,000 new energy vehicles registered in its network. BAIC, China’s largest electric car maker, has also set itself the goal of ceasing production of petrol cars by 2025, following guidance from the government to transition to cleaner passenger transport.
The ride-hailing app said that the joint venture will focus on “new energy fleet operation and AI transportation solutions to develop next-generation connected-car systems.”
This marks the latest in a stream of contracts between Didi and auto companies to invest in China’s growing mobility industry. Didi now collaborates with 12 firms, including Warren Buffett-backed electric vehicle firm BYD.