China seeks to significantly increase its control of Uber and competitors
Chinese authorities will increase their control of car-hiring companies like Uber and Didi Kuaidi after complaints from the taxi sector. According to a draft copy of new regulations governing car-hailing services which was published yesterday in the local press, the Chinese Transportation Ministry will require these companies to have a license to hire out their vehicles, to have prices "fixed by the government or decided on the basis of the market" and to open offices in China. Furthermore, the externally-financed operators will have to comply with a series of as yet unspecified national security regulations. In all, the firms will be subjected to various controls by up to nine Chinese entities ranging from the Central Bank to the police.

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China on Saturday published draft rules to regulate online car hailing businesses, a booming sector where U.S. firm Uber Technologies Inc and Chinese rival Didi Kuaidi have been aggressively competing for market share.

The draft rules, published on the website of the Ministry of Transport, said they are aimed at maintaining order by strengthening supervision of online car hailing apps.

Like in many other countries, the legality of car hailing services has vexed regulators in China where the authorities say drivers are operating outside the law.

The draft rules, which will be open to public feedback, will require ride-sharing companies to obtain a license and guarantee a transparent pricing mechanism.

Drivers will also have to meet certain qualifications such as driving experience, and those without a license will not be allowed to provide services. The number of seats will be limited to no more than seven in each car.

Uber and Didi Kuaidi are locked in a turf war in China, investing billions of dollars to lure in riders with steep discounts and to subsidize the money earned by drivers.

Uber China said in a statement on Thursday it was preparing documents to apply for a license.

Didi Kuaidi, a $16 billion firm backed by Chinese Internet giants Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Tencent Holdings Ltd also said on Thursday it had received a car booking license for its operations in Shanghai and that it was seeking more licenses from other cities.

Didi Kuaidi is the dominant ride-hailing app in China, although Uber recently closed a $1.2 billion deal to enter 100 more Chinese cities in the next 12 months.

(Reporting by Ruby Lian and Kazunori Takada; Editing by Stephen Coates)