Car sharing arrives in Guangzhou

Once the Gofun app is downloaded and the driver registered, a QR code can be scanned to unlock the car. [Photo by Zhu He/xkb.com.cn]

A car rental scheme, similar to that of the ever-popular bike sharing systems across China, has been rolled out in Guangzhou.

Gofun, a subsidiary of Shouqi Group, a state-owned automobile enterprise headquartered in Beijing, has released rental cars in the capital, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.

To use Gofun rental cars, drivers need to download and register with the Gofun app before scanning a QR code on the vehicle and driving away.

So far 100 cars have been parked in public places around the city, with staff members saying that that number will increase to 1,000 by the end of the year.

The cars can be found near metro stops and busy public areas such as Guangzhou East Railway Station, and South China Normal University, and will branch out into more districts as the business expands.