Industry and commerce authorities have closed down the offices of China’s two biggest taxi and private car apps, Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache, in Luoyang, after local taxi drivers protested against the two companies, according to an article in Caijing Magazine's website on May 12, Tuesday.
According to the article, the closure was triggered by complaints of cab drivers who were displeased with the taxi and private-car apps which they believe have been cutting into their business.
The article said that authorities have previously ordered Luoyang drivers to uninstall the apps, but some drivers refused. Following that, some drivers discovered a cabbie from Luoyang suburbs still using the app, followed him and surrounded the car and the incident turned into a massive protest action.
The report said that the discovery of an outsider using taxi-hailing apps sparked anger among some of the city's taxi drivers, which resulted in a massive protest in front of Didi's Luoyang office.
The protesting drivers asked Didi workers to uninstall its hailing app on taxis not licensed in Luoyang, but their request was declined, the report added.
The police later arrived to maintain order while the local industry and commerce regulators investigated the incident and closed down Didi's office. Authorities also took away some office computers and invited the staff for further investigation.
The regulators also seized Kuaidi's office in the city, the report added.
A Didi Dache worker was quoted as saying that the two companies have been under intense inspection and pressure from local authorities since they arrived.
Regulators did not say if the closing down of Didi's offices in Henan City is temporary or not, the report said.