DiDi Chuxing has unveiled a custom electric sedan built specifically for ride-shares: the D1.
The D1 was built in partnership with electric vehicle maker BYD.
The electric vehicle has features like a smart steering wheel, several touchscreens, and artificial intelligence systems.
The D1s will be used by drivers across cities in China over the next several months — starting this month in Changsha, China, according to a report by Reuters — with the company's leasing partners.
DiDi Chuxing, a Chinese ride-hailing company and global Uber competitor, has unveiled a electric vehicle built specifically for ride-shares: the D1.
Didi partnered with BYD - the "world's largest" electric vehicle maker, according to Didi - to create the custom sedan. Looking forward, the vehicles will be used across cities in China with the company's leasing partners over the next several months, starting this month in Changsha, China, according to a report by Reuters.
The company has had a history of working with electric vehicles and catering to the ever-growing segment. DiDi has about one million electric vehicles on its platform, which means the company is the "world's largest shared electric vehicle network," according to DiDi. In turn, about 20% of China's electric vehicle mileage count can be attributed to DiDi's platform.
DiDi has also set up 20,000 EV charging stations across China, according to the company, and has teamed up with BP to create 200 charging stations in the country by the end of the year.
According to DiDi, there are three issues in the ride-hailing segment: safety, efficiency, and experience.
Didi Chuxing's D1 electric ride-hailing vehicle.
Didi Chuxing
According to the company, vehicles aren't currently equipped with proper safety measures for ride-hailing uses, and don't have larger "safety management and response tools."
Didi Chuxing's CEO Will Cheng at the D1 launch event in Beijing on November 16, 2020.
In terms of inefficiency, vehicles also don't currently coordinate between the car and the phone, and don't have the energy efficiency and support that ride-share drivers may need.
Didi Chuxing's D1 electric ride-hailing vehicle.
Didi Chuxing
The final of the three points, experiences, refers to uncomfortable spaces for both the driver and the passengers.
CEO of DiDi Cheng Wei at the D1 launch event in Beijing on November 16, 2020.
The D1 was built using information from DiDi's over 550 million passengers and 31 million drivers that partake in up to 60 million daily trips.
CEO of DiDi Cheng Wei at the D1 launch event in Beijing on November 16, 2020.
Xin Yue/Huanqiu.com/VCG via Getty Images
The company also used 10 million comments, workshops, and 10,000 survey answers from both drivers and passengers to build the final product, president of DiDi Jean Liu said in a statement in the news release announcing the D1.
President of Didi Liu Qing and CEO of DiDi Cheng Wei and at the D1 launch event in Beijing on November 16, 2020.
"During the process of countless product upgrades, we realized that we were not satisfied with the progress we made on improving user experience," Liu said in a statement. "Therefore, we decided to focus our efforts on the vehicle itself.
President of Didi Liu Qing and CEO of DiDi Cheng Wei and at the D1 launch event in Beijing on November 16, 2020.
The D1 has a series of "ride-hailing safety innovations," such as a Driver Monitoring System, a "smart" steering wheel with alert systems …
The interior of Didi Chuxing's D1 electric ride-hailing vehicle.
Didi Chuxing
… and artificial intelligence "voice and video monitoring and analysis" programs with facial and item recognition capabilities, according to DiDi.
The interior of Didi Chuxing's D1 electric ride-hailing vehicle.
Didi Chuxing
The D1 also comes with systems to help the drivers, such as Level Two driving assistance, pedestrian warnings, and automatic emergency brakes.
The interior of Didi Chuxing's D1 electric ride-hailing vehicle.
It's also equipped with the DiDi Smart Driver, a system that communicates with the driver by using the dashboard, voice assistance, and the "smart" steering wheel.
The interior of Didi Chuxing's D1 electric ride-hailing vehicle.
Didi Chuxing
To target its specific use, the vehicle has a "ride-hailing service flow from driver verification, pickup and drop-off, to payment and customer service," according to DiDi.
The interior of Didi Chuxing's D1 electric ride-hailing vehicle.
Didi Chuxing
Drivers also have ergonomic seats for more comfortable trips.
The interior of Didi Chuxing's D1 electric ride-hailing vehicle.
Didi Chuxing
According to a report by The Verge, the D1 will have a range of 260 miles.
CEO of DiDi Cheng Wei at the D1 launch event in Beijing on November 16, 2020.
The vehicles also operate under a fleet management system, as shown below.
The smart fleet management system.
Didi Chuxing
D1's power sliding doors allow for quicker and safer passenger entry and exit, according to DiDi, therefore eliminating any swinging doors that could hit bicyclists and other people, according to the Reuters report.
Didi Chuxing's D1 electric ride-hailing vehicle.
Passengers also have control over different "environmental and infotainment" options via two touchscreens behind the headrest of the driver and front passenger seats.
The interior of Didi Chuxing's D1 electric ride-hailing vehicle.
Didi Chuxing
The vehicle has an exterior "avocado green" color that matches the company's bike-shares, according to Liu at the unveiling event as reported by Reuters.
Didi Chuxing's D1 at the launch event in Beijing on November 16, 2020.
"DiDi China has been building a deeper automotive ecosystem for its core mobility service by establishing an extensive alliance with manufacturers, energy providers, and other industry players in the value chain," the company wrote in a statement in the news release.
Didi Chuxing's D1 at the launch event in Beijing on November 16, 2020.
This includes companies like Toyota, Volkswagen, and BYD, to name a few companies, that serve a variety of purposes in the alliance.
Didi Chuxing's D1 at the launch event in Beijing on November 16, 2020.
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