Han Ximin

ximhan@126.com

DIDI Chuxing, the world’s leading mobile transportation platform, upgraded its autonomous driving unit into an independent company to focus on R&D, product application, and business development related to autonomous driving technologies, according to an announcement yesterday.

DiDi’s CTO Zhang Bo will head the new company as its CEO.

The company will integrate the resources and technological advantages of DiDi’s platform, continue to increase investment in R&D for core innovative technologies, and deepen collaboration with upstream and downstream auto industry partners.

“The new company looks forward to further strategic collaborations with automakers and industry partners to promote the application of self-driving technologies in people’s everyday lives,” Zhang said.

DiDi will apply its experience and understanding of safe operations in the ride-hailing sector to autonomous driving operations. Meanwhile, the company will work with the transportation authorities and all related parties to explore the establishment of safety standards for autonomous driving operations.