DiDi Car Rental's 2026 Summer Driving Report reveals a significant uptick in travel demand since the season began on July 1st, with daily rental orders surging over 50% year-on-year. Beyond the overall growth, this year's summer driving market is marked by a westward shift in destinations, faster growth in smaller cities, and the rising popularity of electric vehicles.
Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Urumqi topped the list of the top ten pickup cities in July, with southwestern and northwestern regions accounting for half of the rankings. This trend intensified in August, as the number of western and plateau cities on the list increased from five to six. The westward travel boom is not limited to major hubs; improved vehicle supply on the platform allows tourists to rent cars directly upon arrival at local airports or high-speed rail stations, bypassing long-distance drives. This "rent-on-arrival" convenience has significantly lowered travel barriers, leading to emerging small and medium cities experiencing year-on-year growth of up to 100%.
The westward shift in travel demand is also extending rental durations. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Yangtze River Delta city clusters average 2-3 day rentals, primarily for weekend and nearby trips. In contrast, Urumqi sees an average rental period of 6 days, Hulunbuir 5 days, and Guiyang, Xining, and Chengdu 4 days, reflecting cross-city road trips. The increased share of long-distance orders in western and ring-road cities has pushed the national average rental period from 2.6 days last year to 3.5 days this summer. DiDi Car Rental reports that orders lasting over 5 days have risen by 20% year-on-year, with users booking an average of 10 days in advance.
Electric vehicles are increasingly favored by self-driving travelers due to their low running costs, smart cockpits, and spacious interiors. This summer, nearly half of all rental orders nationwide are for EVs, a 1.5-fold increase from last year. According to the report, DiDi Global Inc.'s car rental service has doubled its EV fleet compared to last year and expanded model selections by 30%.
DiDi Car Rental has also upgraded its service guarantee system. Ahead of this summer, it launched a "Reliable Car" section, which promises compensation if prices are higher elsewhere, offers unlimited mileage and region usage, waives refueling and charging service fees, and provides overnight delivery to homes. These enhancements cater to the increased cross-city travel needs. Since its launch a month ago, the "Reliable Car" section has covered 62 cities nationwide, featuring over 10,000 models, with over 97% of orders fulfilled flawlessly. Cities like Lijiang, Qinhuangdao, and Hulunbuir achieved zero complaints in July.
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