Uber’s Chinese app excludes foreign users
Uber’s latest app update in China has locked out foreign users, as the app has become specific to China after a buyout by Chinese company Didi Chuxing in July. The new app version is also now only available in Chinese languages, and no longer accepts foreign credit cards, making it difficult for foreigners to use the app even if they read Chinese characters. The Chinese app is completely separate to Uber’s main global one as a result of the takeover, however, Didi did say it plans to bring back the previously available features by next year.

--FILE--A Chinese mobile phone user looks at the icons of the mobile apps of taxi-hailing apps Didi Chuxing, lower, and Uber on his smartphone in Jinan city, east China's Shandong province, 2 August 2016. China's Ministry of Commerce said Friday (2 September 2016) it has opened an investigation into Didi Chuxing Technology Co.'s acquisition of Uber Technologies Inc.'s China business, after it received questions over whether the ride-hailing deal complied with the nation’s antitrust law.

--FILE--A Chinese mobile phone user looks at the icons of the mobile apps of taxi-hailing apps Didi Chuxing, lower, and Uber on his smartphone in Jinan city, east China's Shandong province, 2 August 2016. China's Ministry of Commerce said Friday (2 September 2016) it has opened an investigation into Didi Chuxing Technology Co.'s acquisition of Uber Technologies Inc.'s China business, after it received questions over whether the ride-hailing deal complied with the nation’s antitrust law. Credit: Da qing/Imaginechina

Bad news if you were hoping to hitch an Uber ride on your next visit to China.

The latest update of Uber's app in China has effectively locked out foreign users. While it used to be a universal app for all of Uber's available countries, it's now specifically for China, developed by Chinese company Didi Chuxing (which pretty much bought out Uber China in July.)

According to local reports, the new app is only available in Chinese, and the English version doesn't activate anymore.

It's now developed by a local company, not Uber. Credit: allchinatech screenshot

Most importantly, the app no longer accepts foreign credit cards. That means even if you can read Chinese, you need a card from China to pay for rides, making it a lot more difficult for visitors to use Uber there.

This wall works both ways too, it seems. The China Uber app doesn't work outside of the country, so Chinese users can't call for rides when they travel, either.

The new app is separate from Uber's main global app, which launched a massive redesign earlier this week. Chinese users on the country's microblogging service, Weibo, have complained that they don't get the new update with the Uber China app.

A sure sign of Uber China getting subsumed into Didi Chuxing.

This change is certainly problematic for overseas Uber riders, but Didi claims it will rectify the issues eventually.

A Didi rep told Mashable it is "working hard to bring back" international cards and the English-language version of the app next year.

The company added: "Uber China is now a different legal entity and needs to reflect that in its app signature, contractual relations, etc., as the acquisition deal requires."

The app is part of a "phased transition plan" for the companies to maintain services for the existing Uber China users, it said.

Additionally, the local app now includes a number of improvements, such as round-the-clock customer support, and integration with dominant chat messenger, WeChat.

Part of Didi Chuxing's success in China can be attributed to its seamless integration with WeChat, which a large part of its user base taps to book taxis. Uber China getting included will help bring it into the fold.

This change is a sure sign of Uber China getting subsumed into Didi. That deal is currently being investigated by the country's antitrust regulator.

The new app's change in policy also goes against Uber's promise to users that they can travel the world and confidently use the app as they would back home.

UPDATE: Nov. 4, 2016, 5:13 p.m. SGT Updated the story with response from Didi Chuxing.