BMW starts premium car-hailing service in Chengdu

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 14, BMW Group announced the launch of its ride-hailing service in Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan Province, as part of the businesses under the premium mobility brand ReachNow, making it become China's first global carmaker that operates a ride-hailing service.

The newly-launched ride-hailing service will be operated by BMW Mobility Service Ltd, a BMW's wholly-owned subsidiary founded in April this year. This is the first time for ReachNow to extend premium car-sharing business in China. A fleet of 200 BMW 5 Series coupled with skilled and train drivers will be deployed there.

BMW Mobility Service Ltd currently possessed over 200 operators and drivers in Beijing and Chengdu, taking charge of the operation for BMW's hourly car rental and premium ride-hailing businesses in China. Users can make an appointment or enjoy an instant ride-hailing service via the ReachNow App.  

It is confirmed in late November that BMW became the first foreign company in China that was given go-ahead to develop a ride-hailing business. In December 2017, ReachNow started its car-sharing business in Chengdu in partnership with EVCARD, an-electric car-sharing company from Shanghai, and then operated a fleet of 100 BMW i3 electric vehicles. Up until now, the number of service sites has been increased to 100 from 25.

BMW Group is building a holistic ecosystem in the blooming mobility domain. It launched the DriveNow hourly car rental service in Europe as early as 2011 and then initiated the ReachNow's car-sharing and ride-hailing businesses in the U.S. in 2016. Moreover, BMW Group made DriveNow become its wholly-owned subsidiary this year by acquiring all stakes previously controlled by other investors. The acquisition of Parkmobile makes it the world's biggest digital parking service provider.