On 30 April, DiDi has resumed its ride-hailing services, including taxi-hailing, private-car hailing, Hitch, and Designated Driving, in Wuhan, China.
DiDi suspended its transportation services in Wuhan when the city went into a draconian lockdown after it was found out that the city is the epicentre of the viral outbreak.
The company also closed its service to medical workers and community fleets. The special fleets started on 24 January, one day after Wuhan’s lockdown began, and expanded to 15 Chinese cities. In total, 160,000 drivers signed up to become volunteers who provided essential transportation to close to 38,000 registered doctors and nurses fighting the coronavirus on the frontline. In Wuhan alone, the volunteer fleets offered 650,000 rides to healthcare and community workers.
Meanwhile, DiDi will continue to carry out rigorous hygiene protocols and other protection measures, and the intense fight still goes on in our international markets. Nevertheless, this moment marks a new beginning as we turn to support the full discovery of urban life and transportation in the country.
DiDi resuming its services in China brings a ray of hope to other ride-hailing companies whose business is decimated greatly. Many of these companies are recalibrating their business.