Chinese-based ride-hailing service DiDi Chuxing, which recently entered the local market, is recruiting partner drivers in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
This comes after the ride-hailing service started piloting its offering in Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, in April, with a Cape Town launch taking place in May.
In a statement, DiDi says driver registration is now open in Johannesburg and Pretoria, encouraging drivers to sign up to its mobility platform.
It describes the expansion in Gauteng as a milestone for its growth into a network of new markets.
According to DiDi, drivers will receive a R250 sign-up bonus after they’ve completed 10 trips during the first week after the launch. They will also get a R300 bonus for every new driver and rider they refer, which can add up to a total of R15 000 in referral bonuses.
The company further notes that driver-partners and riders will be able to access safety features such as facial recognition for drivers, ability to share a trip with contacts for both drivers and riders, SOS button for riders and drivers linked to police, as well as a safety hotline for drivers and riders, with safety response support available 24/7.
In addition, preview information of drivers and riders, preview trip destination for drivers and ride cost estimate for riders, safety training for drivers and private communication are facilitated through the app.
Founded in 2012, DiDi Chuxing is a Chinese vehicle-for-hire company headquartered in Beijing, with over 600 million users and tens of millions of drivers.
The South African expansion marks the e-hailing company’s first presence in Africa and the 17th active country globally.
In SA, DiDi competes with Uber, Bolt and the newly-launched ride-hailing player NextNow.
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