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Didi promotes new carpool function amid ongoing debate about safety
It’s getting harder for users to hail a ride as authorities tighten oversight on ride-hailing
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This article originally appeared on ABACUS
It’s been months since China’s biggest ride-hailing operator Didi suspended Hitch, its popular but controversial carpooling service, after two women were killed last year. But now Didi is promoting another carpooling feature.
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Some Didi users can now use a “special-offer carpooling” feature, according to Chinese media reports, but it works a little differently from the now-suspended Hitch. It’s a part of the Didi Express service, which has always offered carpooling -- but with stricter requirements for becoming a driver than Hitch.
There are a few other differences too. While Hitch used to let drivers pick passengers that are going to the same destination, Didi Express carpooling matches two passengers, and it has never been suspended.
The promotion, which is listed as a separate entry from Didi Express’s original carpooling feature, is set at a lower price. For now, it’s only live within specific areas in three cities as a trial, and users can only access it during rush hours.
Chauffeurs driving for Didi Express must go through a stricter verification process than what was required of Hitch drivers. While Didi Express and Didi Premiere require three years of driving experience, Hitch only required one year. It also let drivers sign up for an account with cars licensed under other names, including rental cars.
One Chinese media outlet sought to show just how easy it was to become a Hitch driver. A reporter managed to successfully set up her account as a female driver using a male driver’s ID.
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