EGYPT – DiDi, a Chinese transportation technology platform, has officially launched its services in Middle East and will begin providing Waslny, Waslny Plus and Didi Express services in Egypt.
The entry of the Chinese intelligent transport giant should increase competition in the Egyptian market, especially after the recent entry of the Russian application, InDriver, which limits control of Uber after the acquisition of Careem.
“We are bringing a global experience and the best technology to ensure safety for our passengers and drivers,” Carina Smith-Allin, DiDi head of public relations and communications for Sub-Saharan Africa said.
“Our innovative features include facial recognition for drivers, SOS buttons for riders and drivers linked to the local police, 24/7 support via a dedicated safety hotline, preview information for riders and drivers, and safety training for drivers, among others.”
“We are bringing a global experience and the best technology to ensure safety for our passengers and drivers.” Carina Smith-Allin – Head of public relations, DiDi Sub-Saharan Africa
In Egypt, drivers will receive a financial reward if they make 10 trips during the first week of registration starting from September 13, 2020, and the driver will receive a reward of £25 for each successful new user invitation, plus a system of tiered rewards that the “Captain” receives when he reaches a certain number of invites (150 pounds coupon).
DiDi was launched in South Africa on August 23 in three Gauteng cities: Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Pretoria. The Gauteng expansion follows the opening of offices in Cape Town and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) earlier this year.
DiDi offers three services in South Africa: DiDi Go, a low-cost option for budget-conscious riders; DiDi Express, a standard service for those seeking a mix of price and comfort; and DiDi XL, with a capacity of up to seven seats, for those who require more space.
Didi is one of the largest Chinese companies and the Beijing government tries to control it by investing in state-owned companies.
According to a CNBC report, Uber owns a 12% stake in China’s Didi, making it the second largest investor in the company after SoftBank.
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