The emergence of online ride-hailing has changed the way many people travel. Taxis, which were once arrogant, have begun to slowly let go of their once proud attitude. For the majority of passengers who suffer from the pain of being refused rides, the emergence of online ride-hailing is simply good news. Of course, the models of online ride-hailing cars are different. There are various online ride-hailing cars on the market, and the experiences they bring are also different. In response to this situation, Didi is preparing to do something big and jointly launch a customized online ride-hailing service with BYD - D1.

User-oriented

Different from traditional compact online ride-hailing services, Didi launched the MPV-shaped D1 this time. The control flexibility may not be as good as that of a compact car, but for passengers, MPV is the best solution for online ride-hailing. Spacious space (rear legroom up to 1m) and comfortable seats are what passengers want. It may not accelerate quickly, but the space must be large. Even several suitcases can be put into the trunk. In addition, D1 also uses a very practical right rear electric sliding door design, which is extremely convenient for passengers who are not very mobile.

The product is very powerful

Although it is only positioned as an online ride-hailing car, there is nothing perfunctory in terms of styling. Closed front face, narrow headlights and front grille are integrated into one. The tail design is also extremely simple, with BYD’s iconic through-type taillights.

Of course, for an online ride-hailing car, battery life is also a big test. This D1 uses a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a power of 136Ps. It does perform quite well among models of the same level, but the power of 100kW is quite sufficient for online ride-hailing vehicles that shuttle between cities all year round. The NEDC's battery life performance of 418km also takes into account the daily battery life requirement of 300-400km for normal online car-hailing services. In addition, in order to relieve the driver's fatigue after long-term driving, BYD has also added many intelligent driving assistance systems to the D1, such as adaptive cruise, automatic braking, lane departure warning and other auxiliary functions. Indeed, these configurations were not originally necessary for the pursuit of low-cost, high-efficiency online ride-hailing, but BYD still did so, reflecting its humanistic care for drivers.

Innovative operating model

D1 will not be sold to online ride-hailing drivers as a commercial vehicle, but will be rented out on a lease basis. The online car-hailing fee hovers around 3 yuan/km, and the D1 usage fee is 2 yuan/km. For drivers who rely heavily on online ride-hailing, lower unit prices will also cause some drivers to switch to online ride-hailing platforms. This is also a risk Didi will face in the future, and it is also an issue Didi has to consider.

What is Didi’s intention to launch D1?

The current online car-hailing market is a mixed bag, whether they are joint ventures, independent brands, or new energy vehicles. For Didi, managing these cars is cumbersome enough. If online ride-hailing can be standardized and the models unified, the benefits for Didi will be self-evident. In addition to obtaining more detailed big data, it can also provide a more similar travel experience. Perhaps it will never happen again. The embarrassing scene where the model number on Didi’s online ride-hailing page shows Magotan but is actually a Sagitar.

Written at the end

It took Didi and BYD several years to launch D1, which shows that Didi is becoming more cautious in online ride-hailing. The leasing plan is also a major cost consideration. After all, in 2020, no online car-hailing company can withstand the large-scale introduction of online car-hailing cars with unit prices of hundreds of thousands into the market. Of course, as consumers, what we are most concerned about is whether the D1 car can bring us a more comfortable riding experience and affordable price.

This article is the original work of Auto Observer. Any plagiarism will be investigated according to law.

(Operator: He Shuguang)

This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.