Effective management needed for car-sharing service
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A growing number of companies are providing car-sharing service in China. [Photo: Xinhua]

Following the rise in popularity of bicycle-sharing and electric bicycle-sharing, car-sharing is now also gaining ground in China, reports Xinhua.

Car-sharing services are now available in dozens of cities across the country, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Chengdu.

Market leader 'Gofun' owned by Shou Qi Group is offering more than 1,100 sharing cars in Beijing.

In Shanghai, more than 6,500 sharing cars have been put into use by a joint venture involving SAIC Motor and EVCARD.

Most of the cars are new energy vehicles.

Users need to download an app and have to provide their driving license and ID card information to get registered.

Users also have to put a deposit ranging from 99 yuan to 699 yuan into their account.

The App shows car locations and return points and all the information about available cars.

The price of car-sharing services is much cheaper compared with taking a taxi in most cities.

For example, in Beijing, 'Gofun' is offering cars for 1 yuan (0.15 U.S. dollars) per kilometer and 0.1 yuan per minute.

Despite the convenience that car sharing services may bring to customers, some critics say better management is needed.

They say the government should decide whether the scale of the industry needs to be controlled and how to guarantee customers' behaviours.

Moreover, a market access system also needs to be established.

The car-sharing service comes following the booming of bicycle-sharing and electric bicycle-sharing services.

Companies like Ofo and Mobike allow users to register via an app and pick up bicycles wherever they find them. Users can then leave the bikes at their destination without the need to find a docking station.

Ofo is active in 35 cities in China.

The Chinese government has been working for better ways to regulate the industry.

Recently, a Beijing based electric bicycle-sharing service has been ordered to stop service just four days into operation.

The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau said the bikes didn't meet the required standards as they didn't have license plates.

Local regulations stipulate that it is illegal to ride such vehicles on the open road without a license plate.

Author： 　　　Source：CRI　　　 Editor：Yang Fan