GAC-backed ON TIME mobility service’ app available for download from June 18

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- GAC Group-backed car-hailing platform ON TIME (in Chinese, “Ruqi Chuxing)'s mobile application has been open to be downloaded from June 18, according to ON TIME’s official WeChat account. The new mobile service is being put into pilot operation at Guangzhou's Tianhe, Liwan, Yuexiu and Haizhu districts on June 19 and 20 and will be officially launched in the capital of Guangdong Province this month.

ON TIME is jointly invested by GAC Group, Tencent, Guangzhou Public Transport and other investors. Vehicles to be used will be offered by the Guangzhou-based automaker, including the Trumpchi GE3, the Aion S and the Levin Hybrid. Meanwhile, the platform is also to offer mobility services based on Tencent's Internet ecosystem.

According to ON TIME, the mobility service program was initiated by GAC Group as early as last August.

(Photo source: ON TIME's WeChat account)

With the development of technology and the prosperity of sharing economy, consumers have gradually accepted the concept of “use” instead of “own”. Currently, the emerging market has attracted multiple players of which a large part of them are involved with OEMs, including SAIC Motor, BAIC Group, Changan Automobile, Great Wall Motor, Geely and Dongfeng Motor. In addition, some global OEMs such as BMW and Daimler have used their own car brands based on the existing international mobility service experience to develop carsharing business in China. Those players can be classified into the B2C platform.

Aside from the OEM-backed brands, there is another major type of operators, which is represented by Didi and Meituan, focusing on the business mode of C2C. Under this mode, platforms can utilize private vehicles for resource integration, while also face such problems as security risk, poor service and illegal compliance. To date, Didi still occupies a large share in China's ride-hailing market, but the situation has been gradually changed with more and more OEMs diving into this area.