DiDi opens self-developed navigation function to public

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing (DiDi) has launched onto its App the navigation function that can be used by the general public, marking its ambition to deploy its self-owned mapping business.

Currently, the newly-launched function is only available in some cities like Shenzhen and Chengdu, while has not been popularized nationwide yet. Compared to congeneric Apps, DiDi navigation offers similar functions, such as pathfinding and providing three routes for users' options. However, some nuances in road demonstration and marking can still be noticed, which need to be improved in the future.

DiDi's deployment in mapping business can date back to October 2017 when Ditu (Beijing) Technology Co.,Ltd., DiDi's subsidiary dedicated to manufacturing electronic navigation map, filed for the Class-A qualification certificate of navigable surveying and mapping to the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping. In December of that year, DiDi was formally granted the certificate.

In the eyes of many industry insiders, DiDi's mapping deployment may be an unnecessary move as the cake has been largely taken by two giants—AutoNavi and Baidu. However, for DiDi, the mapping and navigation businesses will help it better form a data close loop, so as to improve its mobility service quality. Besides, the huge raft of data about passengers and drivers collected by DiDi will provide data foundation for the continuous improvements of its navigation and mapping development.

More importantly, HD map is considered crucial to autonomous driving development, which is one of major technical businesses DiDi has been forging ahead with. The company began on June 27 the trials for self-driving taxis in downtown Shanghai, offering free trips to users who are prepared to trust the AI-powered machines (photo source: DiDi).