Uber China closes its app in favour of Didi Chuxing's app
Ride-sharing firm Uber's China brand has discontinued its mobile app, now offering its services via Didi Chuxing’s app. Uber China has thus recommended its customers to download a new app, made available in November. No longer having the Uber Black option in favour of more luxurious vehicle options, the company will now focus more on the People’s Uber and Uber X services, while having discarded its English language interface as well as the option to link foreign credit cards to accounts.

The logo of the ride-sharing service Uber is seen in front of its headquarters on Aug. 26, 2016, in San Francisco, California. (Photo : Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)

Ride-sharing company Uber's China brand has reportedly discontinued the operation of its mobile app as part of its merger with rival Did Chuxing.



The company commenced with the shutdown of its mobile app on Nov. 27, Shanghai Daily reported.



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The termination of the app was earlier announced the termination of the app a day earlier as part of Uber China's continuing shift towards using Didi's platform.



With the shutdown of the old app, current Uber China users have been advised to download the new app the company unveiled early in November.



While the new app retains the layout of the old one, it integrates the functions that can be found on Didi's native app, as well as giving it access to the latter's driver pool.



The new app has also removed the Uber Black category, which lets users choose more luxurious vehicle options. Instead, it will reportedly focus more on the People's Uber and Uber X services, which are both targeted towards medium-level costumers.



However, there have been several complaints about the new app discarding the English language interface and the option to link to a foreign credit card. The complaints said that the changes would make it harder for foreigners in China to use the service.



Uber China was acquired by major rival Didi in August after a long competition between the two companies. The merger established Did as the largest ride-sharing company in the country, with over 15 million registered drivers and around 100 million users.



Under the deal, Uber China would still retain its branding and will operate as an independent business unit. However, its driver pool is reportedly expected to be fully transferred to Didi's wing by the end of the month.



Meanwhile, Did has also entered a partnership with United States-based car rental service Avis Budget Group, China Daily reported. Under the new deal, Didi users will be able to rent cars from Avis' 10,000 outlets in 170 countries and regions around the world.

