Chinese electric vehicle startup CHJ Automotive announced plans to establish an R&D centre in the US by the end of 2018 focused mainly on self-driving technologies.

The company last month raised CNY3bn (US$477m) in a series B round of fundraising and established a joint venture with Chinese ride hailing company Didi Chuxing for the production of smart electric cars in China.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The company's CEO Li Xiang said the company aims to have a "relatively big R&D team in place in the US by the year-end". He is looking to tap into the US' large pool of hi-tech talent to develop autonomous driving technologies.

Xiang said his company's initial focus is to develop electric vehicles (EVs) tailor-made for Didi Chuxing's ride handling platform to help maximise operational efficiency.

Didi Chuxing's founder and CEO Cheng Wei at the end of last year announced plans to expand its ride handling NEV fleet to 1m units by 2020 from 260,000 units at the end of 2017.

CHJ is also developing a low consumption electric SUV later this year which it plans to market under its own brand. 

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Auto Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Auto Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving automotive industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now