Ride-hailing company aims to use partnerships to boost vehicle-sharing services

Chinese ride-hailing group Didi Chuxing has signed partnership agreements with 12 car companies to help them market auto-sharing services and electric vehicles.

The move by the group, which has a near-monopoly in ride-hailing in China, is an example of the rapid merging of interests between the car industry and technology companies.

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Bill Russo’s quote:

“The auto industry has always defined itself as a product to be owned, but in reality is a utility to be used,” said Bill Russo, head of Automobility, a consultancy in Shanghai.

He said the arrival of internet companies in the car sector will “disrupt the food chain of the auto industry” by transforming it into a service industry.

“Guess who is putting people in cars more and more? It’s not car companies, it’s internet companies,” he said.