BrandTurner's comments

Didi will soon allow drivers and passengers to select each other based on their shared interests. It already has a deal with LinkedIn, to let people join up their accounts on the two networks. The intention of such initiatives is that white-collar workers, who often endure daily commutes of an hour or two, will have more fruitful journeys during which business, friendship and maybe even romance will develop.

- Per the Economist

There seems to be a lot of people parroting that the CCP freezes out foreign firms by onerous Chinese regulations favoring local firms.

That may be the case for a number of different situations. However, Didi Kauidi, China's ride-sharing service, may just be a better offering than Uber.

Last year, it arranged 1.4 billions rides, more than Uber has done worldwide in its entire history. Also, Didi doesn't just focus on private-car services. It lets users pick a taxi, private car, shared car, shuttle van, or bus to pick them up. It also is tailored to the local market. During Chinese New Year, lots of flights and trains were sold out. Didi helped users find inter-city rides at train fare prices.

It also has a few quirks that separate it from Uber. You can book a test drive of new cars (Audi and Mercedes included). And, Didi is also offering a Tinder-like matchmaking service for passengers. As a kid, I was getting it on in the back seat of my parent's Dodge. What a time to be alive.