China’s Didi To Take On Uber In Chile, Peru

Didi Chuxing, the Chinese ride-hailing company, wants to take on Uber in Latin America, eyeing Chile, Peru, and Colombia.

Reuters, citing job postings and a company official, reported the Chinese company is in the process of recruiting managers for what are some of Latin America’s fastest growing markets. The company has also sent executives from China to Chile and Peru to head up the expansion and has been advertising for drivers, crisis management, marketing, and business development professionals in Chile, Peru, and Colombia. If the company can make inroads in those countries, it could make it tougher for U.S.-based Uber to grow in Latin America. Uber and Didi are already in a fierce battle in Brazil. Early last year Didi acquired 99, a startup in Brazil, to enter the market. Meanwhile, in Mexico, it lured drivers its way with better pay and bonuses if they signed up drivers and riders, noted Reuters.

With Didi Chuxing facing increased regulatory scrutiny in its home country and contending with big financial losses and public outcry after two customers were murdered, it’s setting its sights internationally. Felipe Contreras, Didi Chuxing’s new Chilean public affairs manager, confirmed the company is looking to bring on a senior executive from WOM, which is a cellular phone company in the country. The company wants the executive to be in charge of engagement with the government. “We haven’t announced a date; this is internal to the company,” he said with regards to when the hiring would happen. He did confirm plans to launch in Chile and said the aim is to be the leader by offering quality rides. Rivals are transporting thousands of passengers each day, noted the report. The executive wouldn’t say when the service will launch, saying the company is still in the planning and recruitment stages of the local business.

As for a law regulating ridesharing applications and licenses up to a year away, Conteras told Reuters the company wouldn’t wait for the eventual passing of the law, saying Didi Chuxing is looking at “all the variables.”