Shanghai (ZXZC)- Cao Cao, a ride-hailing platform strategically invested by Geely Technology Group, is ready to set up a car-hailing service company in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province in southwest China, according to a cooperation agreement signed between Kunming Lixing Technology Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hangzhou YouXing Technology Company—the entity behind Cao Cao, and the Kunming Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee.

According to the agreement, Cao Cao plans to pump around $200 million in the acquisition of NEVs which will be deployed across local market. The platform, using Geely Emgrand EV450 all-electric cars, started operation in Kunming in the late May and has so far deployed over 200 vehicles there. The total car number is scheduled to reach 800 units by the end of the year.

(Photo source: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group)

Launched in 2015, Cao Cao has currently operated in 37 cities across China, including Ningbo, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Qingdao, Nanjing, Tianjin, Taiyuan, Dalian, Suzhou and Guangzhou, etc. In certain cities such as Chengdu, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Tianjin and Suzhou, Cao Cao has become the preferred B2C ride-hailing platform choice there.

Both traditional automakers and NEV startups are obviously accelerating and expanding their deployment in the mobility service domain. Such startups as XPENG Motors and Sitech launched their own ride-hailing platforms around recent two months, while mainstream automakers like GAC Group also unveiled its mobility service brand which is invested by Tencent and Didi. The competition in China's mobility service market is getting increasingly fierce now.