Mobility services from Daimler reaches 26 million user milestone

Compared with the year before, this represents a 64% rise in the numbers of users of car2go, moovel and the ride hailing group including mytaxi, Beat, Clever Taxi and Chauffeur Privé. Over 126 million transactions were recorded in 130 cities worldwide (January to September).

Klaus Entenmann, CEO Daimler Financial Services AG: "In 2019, we will change our name to Daimler Mobility AG. This new name gives expression to our strategic expansion of the business segments. Twenty-six million customers along with strong double-digit growth in this future market of mobility are driving our investments."

In March 2018, Daimler and the BMW Group announced their intention, subject to review and approval by the responsible competition authorities, to merge their on-demand mobility services (car sharing, ride hailing, parking, charging and mobility-as-a-service platforms) and to further expand them strategically in future.

An additional joint venture with Chinese manufacturer Geely is also set to launch in 2019, subject to approval by the responsible competition authorities. The resulting premium ride hailing platform will be set up within that joint venture. The new company will be a 50:50 cooperation between Geely Group Company and Daimler Mobility Services and will be based in Hangzhou, China.

Klaus Entenmann, CEO Daimler Financial Services AG: "The ride hailing joint venture will help us to expand our mobility services worldwide while further strengthening Daimler's profile in China. By cooperating with Geely Group Company, we now have the opportunity to enter the Chinese ride hailing market, which is one of the fastest-growing markets in China."

Jörg Lamparter, Head of Mobility Services: "The joint venture with the Geely Group Company opens up promising perspectives for the Chinese market. We look forward to a successful cooperation with the Geely Group Company and the expansion of our activities in China beyond car2go and Car2Share. "

The premium ride hailing service is planned to launch initially in four selected Chinese cities starting in 2019. Initially, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, E-Class and V-Class as well as Maybach will be used. Additionally, premium electric vehicles from the Geely Group can complement the fleet.

The joint venture for premium ride-hailing in China won't be part of the planned mobility joint venture with BMW. Daimler AG and BMW Group, will each hold 50% of the shares in the planned joint venture of the mobility services of both groups. Subject to approval by the competition authorities, the founding of the joint venture, with headquarter in Berlin, would lead Daimler Financial Services to a significant positive valuation and earnings effect in the current fiscal year.