BASF and DiDi Partner to Reshape Car-Sharing Industry in China
MUENSTER, Germany — BASF and DiDi, a leading mobile transportation platform, signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, where Xiaoju Autocare (Xiaoju Yangche), a subsidiary of DiDi, is headquartered. According to the agreement, BASF will provide DiDi with sustainable automotive refinish products developed at its research and production site in Jiangmen. These products, designed for the Chinese market, will help reduce VOC emissions and meet the stringent standards implemented in various cities in China. As strategic partners, the two companies are committed to the sustainable development of the car-sharing industry in and out of China. Paint-related products under the RODIM® brand will be part of the offerings to help body shops enhance workflow and overall performance for automotive refinishing. In addition, a dedicated expert team from BASF will perform professional technical services for DiDi, including training for body shop operators.
DiDi currently has 25 body and paint shops in China and will be expanding to more than 200 owned and franchised shops globally by the end of this year. “Simplification is in our DNA. We focus on simplifying processes and operations while our business is expanding,” said Gu Haijie, President of Xiaoju Autocare. “BASF is the one-stop solution provider that can help us standardize the painting process of our new shops. This will help us increase efficiency by integrating the whole value chain of contractors, dealers and repair centers.”