China's largest ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing announced a strategic cooperation agreement with automaker giant BAIC Group on March 7.

The two sides will cooperate on businesses in new energy vehicle operation, big data applications, transportation services, customized vehicles, and car charging.

Didi will utilize its big data and technological advantages to enable automakers to scale up and refine their shared vehicles. The two companies will jointly promote the popularization and development of new energy vehicles.

Cheng Wei, founder and CEO of Didi Chuxing, said, "Electric vehicles will play a core role in the car-sharing market and Didi is willing to work together with BAIC to provide support for the development and popularization of new energy vehicles."

China's largest ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing reaches a strategic cooperation agreement with automaker giant BAIC Group on March 7. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Cheng added that Didi hopes to build a smart and shared ecological car-sharing environment with auto makers, leverage its internet technology advantages and accumulated operational experience, and promote the upgrading of the auto industry.

Xu Heyi, president of BAIC Group, noted, "The cooperation between BAIC Group and Didi Chuxing is conducive to the industrial transformation and upgrading of BAIC. Focuses will be put on the new energy and smart network-linked vehicles and building a new energy automobile ecosystem."

Didi will cooperate with carmakers and energy providers to establish a new energy vehicle operation platform in the fields of automobile design and production, smart driving technology, core electric technology, car charging, and aftermarket services.

This February, Didi announced that it had reached strategic cooperation with 12 automakers including BAIC New Energy, BYD, and Changan Automobile to jointly build a new energy-sharing auto service system.

Cheng Wei, founder and CEO of Didi Chuxing, talks about the company's ambition in new energy car-sharing at the company's annual meeting. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]