INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache merged in 2015 to form Didi Kuaidi, later renamed
Didi Chuxing
China's ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing is set to launch in Melbourne, Australia, from 25 June as it continues
its international expansion
The firm, which recently launched in Mexico, has just completed a month-long trial in close-by Geelong, Victoria.Didi is the world's largest
world's most valuable start-up.The Australian ride-hailing industry is currently dominated by Uber, but recent entrants to the marketplace
include India's Ola and Europe's Taxify.Australian firm GoCatch is also a player in the market
Didi says the service it will offer in Melbourne will be its core ride-sharing arm, Didi Express
It started recruiting for drivers in June but would not share exactly how many it hoped to put on Melbourne's roads
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Didi's main competitor in Australia will be Uber, which was first made legal in
Australia in 2015
"What I can say is that Melbourne drivers are continuing to respond exceptionally well to the product we
are offering in fact, nearly 100 drivers attended a driver registration day on Wednesday," a Didi spokesperson in Australia told the
TheIndianSubcontinent.The firm's app can be downloaded in Australia from Friday 15 June, and riders will be able to receive 50% off their
trip from 25 June until the end of July, the firm said
claims to have some 550 million users across its app-based transport services, which include premier taxis, express cars and food delivery
