CBI member, BP has announced that it will enter into a joint venture with China’s leading ride hailing service provider, DiDi. The joint venture company will focus on developing new energy vehicle charging infrastructure across China to cater to the country’s developing NEV market.
Initially, the joint venture partnership will only focus on the installation and development of charging infrastructure. However, both companies have reported plans to extend the JV to include collaboration in areas such as loyalty programmes, convenience services and vehicle maintenance.
Yang Xiaoping, Chairwoman and President of BP China said: “China has provided tremendous growth opportunity for BP. Through cooperating with DiDi, BP will be able to actively provide differentiated products to cater to China’s fast-growing new energy vehicle charging market and further expand our brand presence in China.”
Fan Tu, CEO of BP’s downstream business said, “China is the world’s largest new energy vehicle market and presents tremendous opportunity for determining a business model that is both innovative and scalable. [BP] believes that entering into a joint venture with DiDi is the right way to respond to this fast-changing market. Moreover, by being in partnership with DiDi, BP will be to further expand its advanced mobile travel business globally, promoting energy transformation and low carbon solutions across the world.”
BP’s first NEV charging station has already been installed in Guangzhou in Guangdong Province and has the capability to charge 10 cars simultaneously on currents ranging between 60-100kw. It will subsequently be re-branded in light of the JV and serve as a model for the company’s expansion across China.
Comments