BMW launches premium ride-hailing service in China
Germany’s BMW has launched a ride-hailing service in China, becoming the first automotive manufacturer to obtain a license in the country.
As part of its premium mobility brand ReachNow, BMW launched a ride-hailing service in Chengdu, the capital city of the Chinese province Sichuan, which has a population of over 14mn people.
The ride-hailing service will compliment ReachNow’s car-sharing business which was launched in Chengdu in partnership with EVCARD in 2017.
The new ride-hailing venture is comprised of a group of trained drivers and a fleet of 200 BMW 5 Series, of which half are plug-in-hybrid.
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“We are excited to offer our new premium Ride-Hailing service in Chengdu, one of the largest Ride-Hailing hubs in the world embracing mobility solutions for a sustainable urban future” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG.
“Half our fleet of 200 BMW 5 Series are sustainable plug-in-hybrid vehicles and our highly skilled and trained drivers will ensure an exciting premium mobility experience,” he added.
The Chinese ride-hailing industry was worth around US$30bn in May, more than the rest of the world combined, according to a report by consulting firm Bain & Company.
Today, Didi Chuxing is the leading player in the ride-hailing market accounting for 90% of trips.
The firm bought Uber's Chinese business in 2016.
In October, Daimler said it also planned to set up a ride-hailing venture in China in partnership with Geely Group.
