Honda aims to boost car-sharing business in China

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Japanese automaker Honda is ambitious to boost its car-sharing business in China, seizing the opportunity from the significant industrial transition in the world's largest auto market, said Yusuke Hasegawa, executive vice general manager of Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd, at the 2018 International Forum (TEDA) on Chinese Automotive Industry Development.

He said Honda set the Global 2030 Vision last year to help the company gain a solid foothold in China as the country is facing a series of important changes in automotive business environment. Especially, it is indispensable to strengthen the capability in such areas as connectivity, autonomous driving, vehicle electrification and car-sharing for Honda's business growth in China.  

The Honda's executive also revealed that the automaker are cooperating with Alibaba-owned AutoNavi, a Chinese digital map provider, to jointly develop the next-generation car-borne information system. Besides, Honda has joined the alliance led by Baidu's Apollo autonomous driving platform, aiming to accumulate cutting-edge technologies and make autonomous vehicles run much safer in China.

Speaking of the electrification development, Yusuke Hasegawa disclosed that Honda and its joint venture in China are on course researching and developing an EV model, which might be put into volume production at the end of this year.

Honda has cemented the partnership with Neusoft, a China-based leading IT solution provider, according to the executive. They are joining forces to develop core technologies in such key fields as the cloud computing and cloud management of driving data and connected vehicle. Honda believes that the car-sharing business will be enhanced with the popularization of EVs. Moreover, the company will boost its car-sharing cause by providing Chinese consumers with innovative travelling experience and value-for-money mobility services.