Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, a leading automotive alliance, says it has signed a memorandum of understanding with DiDi Chuxing (‘DiDi’), the leading Chinese mobile transportation platform, to explore future business cooperation on a new electric vehicle car-sharing program in the People’s Republic of China.
The MoU with DiDi – it’s claimed – accentuates a commitment to new mobility services at the Alliance, including the launch of robo-vehicle ride-hailing services, as part of the Alliance 2022 strategic mid-term plan launched last year.
Ogi Redzic, senior vice president of Connected Vehicles and Mobility Services for Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, said, “This cooperation fits with the Alliance expansion in vehicle electrification, autonomy, connectivity and new mobility services.”
As the world’s largest automotive group in vehicle sales, the Alliance has a range of new automotive technologies. By the end of its strategic plan, the Alliance will launch 12 pure electric models worldwide, using common EV platforms and components, while also bringing to market 40 vehicles worldwide with autonomous drive technology and developing robo-vehicle ride-hailing services.
Under the Alliance 2022 strategic plan, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is forecasting that the combined revenues of its member companies will reach $240 billion and that annual unit sales will exceed 14 million by the end of 2022, compared with 10.6 million units sold by its member companies during 2017.
