There were a few ideas floating around Chinese tech blogs, of the most possible reasons are:<p>1. Integrate Apple Pay into Didi Chuxing apps, which is estimated to have 300MM users in China[1]. Didi currently only accepts payment with Weixin(aka WeChat) Pay and Ali Pay (aka Ant Financial Services Group, owned by Alibaba Group).<p>2. Massive data points for developing Apple&#x27;s self-driving technology. Didi operates in 400 Chinese cities with over 11 million rides per day, and accounts for 80% private car hailing market and 99% taxi hailing market.[2]<p>3. And yes, investing into Chinese tech sector give them a better leverage in negotiations with the government and also like sbuccini said, association with other Didi&#x27;s major investors.<p>[1]: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.theverge.com&#x2F;2016&#x2F;5&#x2F;12&#x2F;11669178&#x2F;apple-invests-1-billion-in-chinese-transportation-service-didi-chuxing" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.theverge.com&#x2F;2016&#x2F;5&#x2F;12&#x2F;11669178&#x2F;apple-invests-1-b...</a><p>[2]: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Didi_Chuxing" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Didi_Chuxing</a>