Uber drives into Beijing with vehicle app
Updated: 2014-07-15 06:57
By Wang Chao (China Daily)
|
|||||||||
Uber started its test operations in Beijing two months ago. The company is expanding to six cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. [Photo/Agencies] |
US-based mobile app Uber officially launched its car service in Beijing on Monday, and is expanding to six Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Uber started its test operations in Beijing two months ago.
It now operates in 140 cities in 39 countries, including 25 cities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Uber invented the car-calling mobile app. It is similar to apps in China that work with taxi drivers but partners with car service companies instead.
Drivers are not Uber employees but staffers of the car service. They get paid by the fares they earn, and Uber simply negotiates revenue-sharing rates with these partners.
|
|
In some cities, Uber prices fluctuate with demand, similar to airfares. "In New York, when the price rises, that would attract more cars into the system, and everybody gets a ride home. We are doing it in Shanghai but not yet in Beijing," Kalanick said.
Kalanick said that in every market, the service starts from the high-end, "but eventually we want to offer multiple choices for customers".
"We target customers who like quality and a good price, but not necessarily young people," he said. "Our customers would highly overlap those who frequent Starbucks."
Kalanick said Beijing is the fastest-growing city in Asia, and he believes it is among the fastest-growing in the world for Uber.
The company did not release customer figures, but Kalanick said he hopes the number of Uber users in Beijing will grow by 25 percent to 30 percent every month.
So far, the service is most widely available in downtown Beijing, especially the central business district and Sanlitun areas. Customers can get a car elsewhere, but it takes longer to get picked up.
Ben Chiang, director of the Uber China expansion, said they decided to start from a small service scale to guarantee a five-minute pickup.
"Beijing doesn't have a lot of transportation operations. The traffic is heavy, and the city is gigantic, which poses a challenge for us in rolling out the service."
- BRICS nations don't like West dominance: Experts
- Chinese call for Fox host to resign
- Xi makes 'symbolic' stop on Greek isle
- Brazil makes ready to play host to BRICS 'family'
- Forum attracts APEC leaders
- Hacker Attacks Memorial Hall's website
- Germany wins World Cup on Mario Gotze's brilliance
- Chinese president pledges to enhance ties with Greece
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
China helps fight international war on drugs |
Crackdown on terrorist attacks |
My China Story: Meeting the master |
Tongues tied around tatu-bola |
A market that's not such a hot property |
Tough regime cranks out test winners |
Today's Top News
Xi arrives in Brazil for BRICS summit
US network to produce Chinese-inspired drama series
BRICS nations seek new paths to develop global cooperation
BRICS' good story continues
Hacker hits website with threatening message
US network to produce Chinese-inspired drama series
Xi makes 'symbolic' stop on Greek isle
Xi stops in Greece on way to Brazil
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |