GAC Group leads DiDi Autonomous Driving’s Series C funding round

Beijing (Gasgoo)- DiDi Autonomous Driving has successfully completed its Series C funding round, which raised $298 million, the company announced via WeChat on October 22.

Photo credit: DiDi

The fresh financing round was led by GAC Group with participation from DiDi itself. The funds will be allocated to enhance the company’s research and development in autonomous driving technology and expedite the production of its first Robotaxi model.

Focusing on leveraging advanced artificial intelligence, DiDi Autonomous Driving aims to develop and implement Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving technology. This new funding round underscores investor confidence in DiDi’s technological capabilities and operational strengths, as well as their commitment to advancing innovative transportation solutions.

This year, DiDi Autonomous Driving has made significant strides in its core technical capabilities. Utilizing its intelligent operations center, Huiju Port, the company has safely operated mixed-order dispatching in demonstration areas of Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai for over 1,500 consecutive days. In April, DiDi Autonomous Driving partnered with GAC Group’s new energy vehicle arm AION to form Andi Technology, which has been licensed to develop and manufacture L4 vehicles, with plans to launch its first mass-produced L4 model by 2025.

DiDi’s CTO and CEO of DiDi Autonomous Driving, Zhang Bo, emphasized that L4 technology is pivotal for reducing traffic accidents and enhancing transportation efficiency. He noted that successful development hinges on breakthroughs in AI, manufacturing, and operational networks. With strategic backing from GAC Group, DiDi Autonomous Driving is set to strengthen its capabilities in these areas while continuing to invest in technology and drive social value.