Toyota expands e-mobility collaboration with China’s Didi Chuxing

Toyota announced an agreement with Didi Chuxing (DiDi) to expand collaboration in Mobility as a Service (MaaS) in China. Toyota will invest USD600 million to establish GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. (GTMC) for vehicle-related services used by rideshare drivers. DiDi provides app-based transportation services, including taxi hailing, private car-hailing, social ride-sharing and bike-sharing; on-demand delivery services; and automobile services. They also provide sales, leasing, financing, maintenance, fleet operation, electric vehicle charging and co-development of vehicles with automakers.

Previously, Toyota and DiDi announced collaboration on vehicle-related services, including a vehicle leasing service and various services for DiDi ride-hailing drivers in 2018. Toyota’s proprietary Mobility Services Platform (MSPF) provides automobile maintenance support and safe driving guidance to ride-hailing drivers. 

This new agreement will allow Toyota and Didi to shift towards full-scale implementation of the services they’ve developed in China. Furthermore, they can expand to connected services provided by MSPF such as vehicle management, maintenance, insurance, and financing for customers and drivers in China.

Shigeki Tomoyama, Toyota executive vice president responsible for the connected area, said, “I am delighted that we are strengthening our collaboration, which utilizes Toyota’s connected technologies and next-generation BEVs, with DiDi, China’s mobility service market leader. Looking ahead, we will work with DiDi to develop services that are more attractive, safe, and secure for our customers in China.” 

Stephen Zhu, senior vice president of DiDi, said, “DiDi is committed to helping our cities achieve new energy and smart transportation goals with partners from home and abroad. We look forward to combining DiDi’s expertise in AI-based large-scale mobility operations and Toyota’s leading connected vehicle technology to build a next-generation intelligent transportation framework for sustainable cities.”