BAIC Group to promote e-car sharing in Beijing in the first half of 2017

In the first half of this year, BAIC Group will promote pure electric cars sharing in key areas in Beijing, Xu Heyi, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and chairman of Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd, told during the annual “two sessions” in March, 2017.

According to Xu, the amount of shared cars will depend on the market demand and the rental price will be competitive. Different from household cars in appearances and functions, shared cars are all eye-catching two-seat pure electric cars, which are stylish and convenient like popular shared bikes. Users are required to provide valid driver’s licenses and they can search for the cars available for rent on the phone.

“The biggest challenge is the parking problem of shared cars, which will occupy parking spaces of the city, mostly under overpasses, in public parking lots and large transport hubs and around commercial buildings. Now we strive to open the function of returning cars in residential areas to solve the last kilometer problem of car-sharing services,” said Xu. Besides, there are other challenges like management of parking spaces, maintenance of shared cars and backup of shared cars.

In addition, Xu told that BAIC Group plans to popularize unmanned pure electric vehicles for transport in Yanqing district of Beijing and Zhangjiakou city of Hebei province by 2022, and hopes to take the opportunity of the 2022 Winter Olympics to fully show Chinese automobile manufacturing standards.