Global cab-hailing service provider Uber had already announced its launch to more cities in China recently, which is expected to take effect on Feb. 8. (Photo : Reuters)
Global cab-hailing service provider Uber had already announced its launch to more cities in China recently, which is expected to take effect on Feb. 8. According to its announcement, Uber shall provide its services in 15 cities of China's Sichuan province, which is the fourth most populous province in China, by Feb. 8.
With this launch, Uber's presence in China will climbed up to 37 cities, and is now inching closer to its goal of expanding to 100 cities in China by end of 2016.
It is said that in 2015, Uber was already available within 22 cities in China, Tech Times reported. Uber even forecasted the company's top performer cities such Sichuan's capital Chengdu, Hong Kong and Macau. Uber's Head of Strategy in China- Zhen Liu states that 2015 was the company's "Year of Localization," whereas 2016 shall be Uber's "Year of Growth" in China.
Meanwhile, Uber's chief rival in China - Didi Kuaidi - offers services in 360 cities and towns in the country. Tech Crunch reported that Didi Kuaidi is valued at $16.5 billion compared to Uber's value amounting to $8 billion.
Even if Didi Kuaidi already serves more than Uber's goal of 100 cities, Uber has come up with its own strategy to win over Chinese public. Tech in Asia reported that Uber is planning to develop panda-themed Uber Stations at key points in Chengdu. These shall be the contact points where one can pick up a quick ride by an Uber driver. These points are designed for those who are not familiar with locations in a city or traffic patterns.
Furthermore, Uber has tied up with its investor Baidu in developing these stations. Uber Stations shall show in Baidu Maps - a popular mapping app used in China. Uber has been infused with USD$2 billion funds from its Chinese investors during its series B round, where the company intends to use this freshly infused capital for expansion within China.
