DiDi builds JV with Guangdong Communications Services Company for smart city, AI tech

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing (DiDi) set up on January 6 a joint venture with Guangdong Communications Services Company Ltd. to jointly forge ahead with the practical applications of AI technologies and local construction of smart city.

(Photo source: DiDi)

The new joint venture, dubbed DiDi Zhitong (Guangzhou) Technology Co.,Ltd, involves a registered capital of RMB10 million, according to the record posted on China's National Enterprise Credit Information Public System. Its business scope compasses the services and the R&D associated with ICV technologies, used-car brokerage & sales, automobile sales & leasing, auto parts retail, charging facility installation as well as the charging service to EV batteries.

DiDi Zhitong has three shareholders, namely, DiDi Business Services Co.,Ltd, Guangzhou Defei Communications Technology Co.,Ltd and Guangdong Communications Services Company Ltd. Contributing RMB5.1 million, DiDi Business Service is the largest one that holds up to 51% stake in the joint subsidiary.

Chairing the joint venture is Liu Xianghong, chief scientist of DiDi Chuxing's intelligent transport department and a lifetime professor at the University of Michigan.

Building the joint venture with Guangdong Communications Services Company Ltd., an important partner of DiDi in fields of smart city and comprehensive transportation, DiDi attempts to speed up the commercial usage of AI technologies and the building of smart city for local residents, and explore the development in areas such as communications service, refueling and charging, the car-hailing giant said to a local media outlet. 

DiDi Business Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Beijing Xiaoju Technology Co.,Ltd., which is in charge of DiDi’s major mobility service businesses, including DiDi Express, DiDi Premier, DiDi Hitch and DiDi Designated Driving.