SHANGHAI/BEIJING – China’s Ministry of Transport said car-pooling services have to limit the daily number of rides drivers can offer through apps such as Didi Chuxing’s Hitch.
Hitch began its trial operations this month, a year after passenger deaths left the service suspended.
The comment indicates the close regulatory scrutiny ride-hailing firms continue to be under, particularly since the two incidents in which Hitch drivers killed passengers.
“According to local regulations, car-pooling services should have a certain limit on the number of rides each car can offer,” Xu Yahua, director of the ministry’s transportation services department, said at a press briefing on Thursday in response to a question about Hitch’s re-launch.
“There have also been terrible cases that have happened on ride-hailing services so we hope each platform can take in lessons and strengthen safety management measures,” Xu said, according to a transcript of his comments.
A Didi Chuxing representative said, via text message on Friday, the market leader will limit the daily number of rides drivers can offer on Hitch according to guidelines of cities where the service operates. (Reuters)
