CAR
CAR Inc. (神州租车) is China's largest car rental platform, serving individual consumers, travelers, and enterprises with short-term vehicle rentals (4 hours to 7 days) via its mobile app. It also operates autonomous vehicle rentals with Baidu Apollo, an NEV fleet with BYD, and a used-car export business targeting Nigeria.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersBeijing, China
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CAR does
CAR Inc. (神州租车) is China's largest car rental platform, operating a nationwide fleet of short-term rental vehicles accessible through its mobile app, with flexible booking options ranging from four hours to seven days. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Beijing, the company employs more than 10,000 people and serves individual consumers, travelers, and enterprise clients with traditional vehicle rentals.
The company's product portfolio spans four lines. First, its core traditional car rental service offers short-term vehicle access on a pay-as-you-go basis. Second, through a long-term partnership with Baidu's Apollo autonomous driving unit, CAR Inc. launched the world's first publicly available autonomous car rental service in July 2025, enabling users to book, unlock, and return self-driving vehicles without human assistance via the mobile app. Third, the company is scaling a new energy vehicle (NEV) rental fleet in partnership with BYD, which supplied nearly 30,000 vehicles in 2025 and signed a framework deal for 100,000 NEVs in May 2026 alongside a nationwide rollout of BYD's FLASH Charging infrastructure targeting 20,000 stations by end-2026. Fourth, CAR Inc. has begun operating a used-car export service, with the CEO appointed in February 2026 as designated representative by the Nigerian Embassy in China to promote Chinese used vehicles in Nigeria.
Revenue is generated primarily through short-term rental fees on a unit-pricing basis, with pricing aligned to standard consumer rental rates. The company pursues a dual go-to-market approach: a direct-to-consumer mobile app channel for individual renters, complemented by enterprise-level strategic cooperation agreements with automotive OEMs (notably BYD) for fleet procurement, fleet optimization tools, and test-drive initiatives. Capital has been raised across multiple funding rounds, including a 2020 sequence totaling over $550 million from MBK Partners, BAIC Group, and Warburg Pincus, supporting fleet expansion and the AV/NEV transition.
CAR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CAR
- Legal name
- CAR Inc.
- Website
- https://en.zuche.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- CAR Inc. (神州租车) is China's largest car rental platform, serving individual consumers, travelers, and enterprises with short-term vehicle rentals (4 hours to 7 days) via its mobile app. It also operates autonomous vehicle rentals with Baidu Apollo, an NEV fleet with BYD, and a used-car export business targeting Nigeria.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CAR industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Car Rental Services
- NAICS
- Passenger Car Rental (532111), Passenger Car Rental and Leasing (53211), Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing (5321)
- SIC
- Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Self-Drive Car Rental (THADAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Long-Term Corporate Rentals (Monthly/Project-Based) (THADAOAH), Car Rental & Car-Sharing Booking Platforms (BPAMAIAF), Short-Term EV Car Rental (Airport & Off-Airport) (THADANAA)
Keywords
Where CAR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beijing
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
CAR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Short-term Vehicle Rentals: CAR Inc. generates revenue through short-term car rental services offered to the general public. Pricing is aligned with existing short-term rental rates with flexible booking options ranging from four hours to seven days. The company also offers traditional rental fleet alongside autonomous vehicle rental services.
- Used Vehicle Export Services: CAR Inc. provides used-car export services, acting as a designated representative to promote Chinese used cars in international markets like Nigeria. The strategy involves shifting from scale-based to quality-based export with mature testing standards and after-sales services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Autonomous Vehicle Rental |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
CAR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CAR Inc. operates China's largest car rental platform, providing short-term vehicle rental services to individual consumers and travelers through its mobile app with flexible booking options ranging from four hours to seven days. The company also offers the world's first publicly available autonomous car rental service in partnership with Baidu Apollo, a new energy vehicle (NEV) rental fleet via BYD, and used-car export services for international markets.
Product overview
CAR Inc. (神州租车) is China's largest car rental platform offering a comprehensive mobility service portfolio. The company operates a dual offering model combining traditional short-term vehicle rentals with innovative autonomous vehicle rental services. Core products include the traditional car rental service with flexible 4-hour to 7-day booking options, and the autonomous car rental service launched in partnership with Baidu's Apollo Go, enabling users to book, unlock, and return self-driving vehicles entirely through the mobile app. The company also operates a NEV rental fleet featuring BYD models with nationwide charging infrastructure, and international used-car export services for markets including Nigeria. The mobile app serves as the unified access point for all rental services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Autonomous Car Rental Service
- Traditional Car Rental
- NEV Rental Fleet
- Used-Car Export Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Strong operational efficiency and positive customer feedback from initial pilot of 3,000 BYD Qin PLUS DM-i vehicles
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CAR
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CAR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
CAR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- BYDflagshipBYD and CAR Inc. signed strategic cooperation agreement establishing framework procurement deal for 100,000 NEVs alongside nationwide rollout of BYD's FLASH Charging infrastructure at CAR Inc. rental locations. Partnership builds on CAR Inc.'s 2025 purchase of nearly 30,000 BYD vehicles and initial pilot phase with 3,000 BYD Qin PLUS DM-i vehicles. BYD plans to install FLASH Charging facilities at eligible CAR Inc. locations and aims to build 20,000 FLASH Charging stations across China by end of 2026.
- Nigerian Embassy in ChinacoreNigerian embassy in China appointed CAR Inc CEO Gao Dewu as designated representative to promote Chinese used cars in Nigeria. Partnership aims to expand China's used-car exports to Nigeria and develop comprehensive service system. CAR Inc identified Nigeria as key future market with high demand for cost-effective, reliable vehicles.
- Baidu ApolloflagshipLong-term partnership to roll out fully autonomous vehicle rental services. CAR Inc and Baidu Apollo launched world's first autonomous car rental service available to general public in China, enabling users to book, unlock, and return self-driving vehicles entirely without human assistance through CAR Inc mobile app. First fleet of custom-designed Apollo vehicles accommodates up to three passengers.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CAR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- BYD: Strategic OEM partner and supplier of CAR Inc.'s 100,000-NEV fleet and FLASH Charging; comparable as a major NEV ecosystem player shaping the supply side of CAR Inc.'s rental business.
- BAIC Group: Major Chinese automaker and existing CAR Inc. investor; comparable as a strategic partner in fleet supply and NEV adoption within China's rental and mobility ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- Trip.com Group: Owns/eHi Car Services and operates global car rental booking; relevant given overlapping China car rental footprint and OTA-driven distribution channel comparable to CAR Inc.'s mobile app.
- Hertz Global Holdings: Major global car rental player actively transitioning its fleet to EVs, making it a relevant parallel for CAR Inc.'s NEV pivot and large-fleet transformation.
- Sixt SE: Global mobility and car rental incumbent; provides short- and long-term rentals and fleet management with increasing focus on premium and EV fleets, comparable in scale ambition though based in Europe.
- Avis Budget Group: Global incumbent in car rental and fleet leasing with a digital-first booking platform; comparable in business model and fleet-management approach to CAR Inc.'s traditional rental business.
- Didi Chuxing: China's dominant ride-hailing platform with an integrated mobility app; competes for the same urban transportation wallet share as CAR Inc. and is also pursuing autonomous driving.
Emerging players
- Pony.ai: Chinese autonomous driving company with robotaxi operations; comparable to CAR Inc.'s AV rental initiative in deploying self-driving vehicles for consumer mobility use cases.
Direct peers
- eHi Car Services: Direct Chinese car rental competitor; operates short-term and long-term vehicle rental services nationwide with an integrated mobile app, closely matching CAR Inc.'s core offering.
Regional players
- T3 Mobility: Chinese ride-hailing and mobility platform backed by major OEMs; overlaps with CAR Inc. on fleet operations and NEV adoption in China's mobility market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CAR social profiles
Digital presenceCAR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CAR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
CAR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CAR M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CAR
What does CAR do?
CAR Inc. operates China's largest car rental platform, providing short-term vehicle rental services to individual consumers and travelers through its mobile app with flexible booking options ranging from four hours to seven days. The company also offers the world's first publicly available autonomous car rental service in partnership with Baidu Apollo, a new energy vehicle (NEV) rental fleet via BYD, and used-car export services for international markets.
Is CAR a public or private company?
CAR is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was CAR founded?
CAR was founded in 2007. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is CAR based?
CAR is headquartered in Beijing, China, in the Asia region.
How does CAR make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Short-term Vehicle Rentals are the primary driver. The others are used Vehicle Export Services.
Who are CAR's main competitors?
Others on record are BYD and BAIC Group. Broad incumbents are Trip.com Group, Hertz Global Holdings, Sixt SE, Avis Budget Group and Didi Chuxing. Pony.ai is listed as an emerging player. eHi Car Services is listed as a direct peer. T3 Mobility is listed as a regional player.
Does CAR have an API?
No public API is recorded for CAR.
What industry is CAR in?
CAR's product category is Car Rental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THADAAAF, Self-Drive Car Rental, with a secondary code of THADAOAH, Long-Term Corporate Rentals (Monthly/Project-Based). Its NAICS code is 532111 and its SIC code is 7510.