As the green wave of new energy vehicles meets technological breakthroughs in autonomous driving, coupled with the favorable policies of the Hainan Free Trade Port, China's car rental industry is experiencing a landmark upgrade. On September 28th, the CAR Inc. New Energy Strategy and Autonomous Driving Tourism and Culture Ecosystem Summit Forum was grandly held in Haikou, Hainan. Representatives from nearly 30 leading companies in the technology, automotive manufacturing, and finance sectors, including five core financial institutions and eight major OEMs, gathered at the event. They jointly launched CAR Inc.'s Autonomous Driving Tourism and Culture Ecosystem Strategy and a 50 billion yuan ecosystem strategic partnership, ushering in a new phase of development for China's car rental industry: the integration of "new energy, smart mobility, and tourism and culture."
A Strategic Blueprint Charts the Future, Core Advantages Build the Foundation
In recent years, the global automotive industry has accelerated its transition to new energy and intelligent technologies, and China's cultural tourism industry has also ushered in a critical opportunity for intelligent upgrades. Under this macro-trend, the Hainan Free Trade Port, with its unique policy advantages, forward-looking industrial layout, and continuously improving infrastructure, has become a frontier for the integrated development of smart mobility and green cultural tourism.
In his speech at the conference, Haikou Vice Mayor Feng Yong stated that the Hainan Free Trade Port has always prioritized green mobility and smart cultural tourism. The implementation of CAR Inc.'s new energy and autonomous driving tourism and cultural ecosystem strategy is both a testament to its confidence in Hainan's development prospects and a reflection of the Hainan Free Trade Port's pioneering and pioneering advantages. It is gratifying to see CAR Inc. partner with a number of high-quality ecosystem partners from the fields of technology, finance, vehicle manufacturing, and rental services to Haikou. This marks a significant beginning in building an industrial ecosystem encompassing new energy vehicles, financial empowerment, tourism and cultural ecosystems, and smart manufacturing. The gathering of these high-quality companies will inject new momentum into Haikou from the perspectives of capital, technology, industrial chains, and resources. This will accelerate the deep integration of industries like mobility, tourism, and culture with finance and smart technology, driving the strengthening and upgrading of related industries. We look forward to using this press conference as an opportunity to deepen government-enterprise collaboration, provide businesses with more targeted policy support and a superior business environment, and jointly promote Hainan as a global benchmark for the integration of smart mobility and cultural tourism.
Caption: Opening remarks by Haikou Vice Mayor Feng Yong
Huang Wencong, Deputy Director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, spoke from the perspective of top-level industry design, stating that the global automotive industry is undergoing profound changes driven by electrification, intelligence, and connectivity. As the nation's only pilot program for integrated vehicle-road-cloud development across three cities and two routes, the Hainan Free Trade Port has built over 100 smart intersections, opened 1,950 square kilometers of testing area, and 1,230 kilometers of test roads, providing a wealth of application scenarios for the development of smart mobility and autonomous driving technologies. CAR Inc.'s autonomous driving tourism and cultural ecosystem strategy is highly aligned with Hainan's industrial development direction. We look forward to attracting more industry chain companies to jointly create the "Hainan Experience" and serve as a model for the nation.
Caption: Huang Wencong, Deputy Director of the Hainan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, delivered opening remarks.
Yu Hongfei, Chairman of CAR Inc., stated in his speech that new energy vehicles are already a trillion-yuan industry and continue to grow rapidly. Autonomous driving is rapidly becoming a reality, and smart tourism and intelligent mobility are driving a new consumer boom. Against this backdrop, the car rental industry, as a vital link connecting all these sectors, has ample opportunities to flourish in Hainan. Looking back at CAR Inc.'s 18 years of development, it has consistently pursued three core goals: First, promoting the implementation of smart mobility, integrating autonomous driving into everyday life, turning cars into intelligent terminals, and continuously accelerating the pace of technological application; Second, practicing green development, reshaping the rental ecosystem with a new energy strategy. By expanding the size of its new energy fleet, diversifying its vehicle offerings, developing a green fuel replenishment system, and collaborating with financial institutions to streamline the entire process, it aims to achieve both economic benefits and the "dual carbon" goals; Third, fostering a win-win ecosystem, building a cross-sector integrated tourism and cultural ecosystem. By leveraging the strengths of technology partners, OEMs, and financial partners, and leveraging its nationwide network of directly-operated outlets and vast user base, it aims to establish a platform connecting all parties, enabling value sharing and collaborative development.
Caption: Speech by Yu Hongfei, Chairman of CAR Inc.
CAR Inc. CEO Gao Dewu used a set of hard data to reinforce his confidence in the strategic implementation of CAR Inc.: "Our achievement of leading market share for over a decade is not only a testament to our scale, but also the core strength of CAR Inc.'s ecosystem." He noted that CAR Inc. has established three core advantages: network coverage, user base, and product matrix. A fleet of nearly 200,000 vehicles, spread across more than 6,500 outlets in 360 cities, forms a service network that is the foundation for the ecosystem. The 180 million high-value car rental consumers, primarily in first- and second-tier cities, provide a natural market for new energy and smart mobility products. Furthermore, in-depth partnerships with 65 brands and 34 new energy vehicle manufacturers enable CAR Inc. to precisely match user needs with industry supply. These aren't isolated data points; they represent a complete closed loop of capabilities supporting strategic implementation, giving us the confidence to transform our ecosystem blueprint into industry reality.
Caption: Speech by CAR Inc. CEO Gao Dewu
CAR Inc. officially released its autonomous driving tourism and cultural ecosystem strategy
The most notable event at the forum was the official release of CAR Inc.'s autonomous driving tourism and cultural ecosystem strategy, announcing the launch of its Level 4 autonomous driving service, designed specifically for tourism scenarios, in Hainan. Unlike existing autonomous driving programs, which primarily focus on short-distance, point-to-point connections, CAR Inc.'s newly launched intelligent driving service, with a minimum rental period of one day or longer, precisely meets the needs of immersive tourism scenarios. Using the vehicle as a smart mobile space, it fosters an interactive relationship between people, vehicles, and scenery, transforming travel time into an immersive and valuable experience. Closed-loop and small-scale operational testing has been underway in Haikou since July of this year.
Caption: CAR Inc. officially releases its autonomous driving tourism and cultural ecosystem strategy
"We're not just putting autonomous driving technology in cars; we're deeply integrating it into the entire travel service process. Users are no longer simply renting a car; they're choosing a whole new way to travel," said Zhao Zhe, Vice President of CAR Inc. Leveraging the policies and application advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port, CAR Inc. is collaborating with technology partners, OEMs, financial institutions, and upstream and downstream partners in industries such as energy and tourism to build an ecosystem where "technology adapts to scenarios and services permeate the journey."
In terms of car services, CAR Inc.'s intelligent driving product will redefine the traditional car rental experience. Equipped with route recommendations, smart tour guides, and multilingual intelligent voice interaction, CAR Inc. provides domestic and international tourists with attentive services such as scenic spot explanations and historical background information. Equipped with entertainment facilities such as karaoke and an onboard refrigerator, the interior of the car is innovatively upgraded into a "mobile leisure cabin" that integrates leisure, entertainment, and guided tours, allowing users to fully enjoy the joy of smart travel powered by technology and contextualized experiences.
Caption: CAR Inc. Vice President Zhao Zhe shares CAR Inc.'s autonomous driving tourism and cultural ecosystem.
A 50 Billion Yuan Alliance Strengthens Ecosystem, Exploring the New Blue Ocean of Intelligent Driving Market Development
Another key support for the implementation of this strategy is the "50 Billion Yuan Cooperation Ecosystem Alliance" jointly established by CAR Inc., financial institutions, and OEMs. During the forum's key signing ceremony, CAR Inc. reached strategic partnerships with five financial institutions: Guoyin Financial Leasing, Huaxia Financial Leasing, Yongying Financial Leasing, CMB Financial Leasing, and CITIC Financial Leasing (listed alphabetically). Each agreement is valued at 10 billion yuan, officially launching the 50 billion yuan "10 Billion Yuan Launch - Intelligent Driving Future" initiative.
According to the agreement, CAR Inc. and the contracted financial institutions will focus on the application of new energy vehicles and autonomous driving technology, collaborating on diversified application scenarios that combine new energy vehicles, intelligent connected customized vehicles, and fuel-powered vehicles. These will include long-term and short-term rentals, as well as autonomous driving demonstration operations in approved areas. The companies will continue to deepen their business cooperation in financial leasing and SPV vehicle ownership models, actively explore innovative business models, and jointly promote the comprehensive development of a green and intelligent travel ecosystem.
Caption: "10 Billion Yuan Launch - Intelligent Driving Future Plan" Officially Launched
In the subsequent roundtable forum, six financial institution experts, including Zhang Shisong, Assistant to the President of Northeast Securities; Shen Zongqing, President of Huaxia Financial Leasing; Du Yi, Vice President of CMB Financial Leasing; Ma Zhenyu, General Manager of the Inclusive Finance Department of Guoyin Financial Leasing; Ha Yunpeng, General Manager of the Green Transportation Business Department of Yongying Financial Leasing; and Wu Yiming, General Manager of the Vehicle Business Department of CITIC Financial Leasing, engaged in an in-depth discussion on "Financial Empowerment and Investment Opportunities under the Strategic Transformation of New Energy." They all agreed that the new energy transformation of the car rental industry will give rise to a promising green finance market, which needs to be tapped through product innovation and ecosystem synergy.
Caption: Six experts from financial institutions discussed financial empowerment and investment opportunities under the strategic transformation of new energy vehicles.
New vehicle deliveries kick off a new journey, and intelligent driving, tourism, and culture achieve tangible results.
In addition to financial support, the simultaneous presence of eight major OEMs further solidified CAR Inc.'s new energy product portfolio. At the "New Energy Convergence, Intelligent Journey" vehicle delivery ceremony held in the second half of the forum, representatives from eight OEMs (in alphabetical order) including BYD Group, GAC Group, Huawei Hongmeng Intelligent Driving & Askjie, Lantu Motors, SAIC Passenger Vehicles, SAIC Volkswagen, Xpeng Motors, and FAW-Audi took the stage to introduce their star new energy vehicles suitable for rental scenarios and hand over the vehicle keys to CAR Inc. The delivered models, covering a full range of categories from economy to business models, will rapidly expand CAR Inc.'s new energy vehicle fleet, providing users with diverse green travel options.
Caption: "New Energy Gathering Strength, Smart Journey" Vehicle Delivery Ceremony
Car Inc. CEO Gao Dewu stated that, leveraging the newly announced strategies and collaborative ecosystem, Car Inc. will focus on three key areas: first, steadily advancing technology and application adaptation in the smart mobility sector. Car Inc. has registered and established the Shenzhou Intelligent Driving Company, which it plans to develop into its global headquarters for autonomous driving; second, establishing a closed-loop operational lifecycle in the new energy sector; and third, creating differentiated experience packages in the integration of tourism and culture. In the future, users in Hainan can expect to experience customized services such as "smart travel + island tours" and "car rental + surfing adventures." Shenzhou Inns will gradually become standard features in scenic spots.
The successful forum not only demonstrates Car Inc.'s determination to lead industry transformation but also fosters a win-win industry landscape for technology providers, OEMs, and financial institutions. With the gradual implementation of these strategies, Hainan is expected to become a benchmark region in China for the integration of green, smart mobility and tourism and culture. Car Inc. will use this launch event as a starting point to drive the transformation of China's car rental industry from traditional mobility services to a smart ecosystem platform.