Ford Explores Mobility with Dida CityRide Pilot Program
Ford has announced its latest effort in its global Smart Mobility plan—a pilot program called Dida CityRide, a collaborative effort with users of the country’s carpooling app Dida Pinche. Dida Pinche is a ride-sharing program similar to the likes of Lyft and Uber, with one considerable difference: passengers need only pay the help the driver with the cost of fuel and parking.
The objective of Dida CityRide is to help decrease congestion on Chinese roadways, which can be unpleasant at best and a hellish nightmarescape reminiscent of a Hieronymus Bosch painting at worst.
“We know that Chinese drivers are concerned about everyday issues like traffic, pollution and parking, and by partnering with leading-edge companies like Dida, we’re finding ways to shift the automotive industry’s focus from products to comprehensive transportation solutions,” said John Lawler, chairman and CEO, Ford China.
The program was also a hit as far as wrangling prospective buyers. According to data gathered from the month-long program across 170,000 rides covering more than 2.56 million kilometers, 90% of riders shared that they have a higher opinion of the Ford brand, and around 40% shared information indicative of interest in purchasing a Ford down the line. As it stands, the Ford Focus is the most commonly used vehicle on Dida.
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