China: Didi ride-sharing services suspended after series of incidents

Event

On August 26, Chinese ride-sharing firm Didi announced the interruption of its ride-sharing Hitch service after a passenger was raped and murdered in the eastern Wenzhou city (eastern Zhejiang province). A dramatic similar case already occurred earlier this year. Police have arrested a driver responsible for the incident. This latest episode has sparked fresh criticisms of Didi company - which forced rival Uber company out of the Chinese market - as some users voiced concerns about the safety protocol enforced by the company's management.

Context

Headquartered in Beijing, Didi is a major ride-sharing, artificial intelligence and technology conglomerate. It provides transportation services for hundreds of millions of users in China in 400 cities.

Advice

As a reminder, foreign nationals present in China are required to have Chinese driving licence while driving, as well as a valid insurance. Note that road accidents are common in this country due to the poor quality of roads, high volumes of traffic and generally low driving standards. If you are involved in a serious traffic accident, contact the police and do not move your vehicle before the police arrives.