back to article Uber rips off Chinese arm, swaps it for share in successful rival – reports

After pouring over two billion dollars into its Chinese operations, Uber has thrown in the towel and is set to sell its Chinese arm to a local rival, according to reports. The deal, which will be announced this week, will see Didi Chuxing acquire Uber's Chinese subsidiary and plough $1bn into the global ride-hailing business …

  1. This post has been deleted by its author

  2. Nifty Silver badge

    Technology has ceased to be the deciding factor of success

    The biggest payments system in China is now WeChat. Uber couldn't cut a deal with WeChat so the death knell sound a while ago on Uber in China.

    But the real truth is this: Conventional taxi services will merge into 'sharing economy' transport the minute politics allows it. In the West that is.

    In China, it's already de facto that Didi Dache which Uber's ceding to, is in fact a taxi hailing service. Uber was trying to be something else, another reason it failed. Didi Dache will probably expand on it's limo service to fill any Uber shaped gap.

    Just like in the UK for any kind of service, Zero hours contracts merge into sole traders merge into small Ltd outfits and subcontractors, it's not technology that's the factor but legal issues like insurance, compliance and tax.

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Didn't Understand the Culture and Paid the Price!

    Target did the same in Canada and got assraped for it.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Didn't Understand the Culture and Paid the Price!

      Beer, poutine and politeness are not culture.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Didn't Understand the Culture and Paid the Price!

        And fish & chips with tea are?

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Another one bites the dust in the wild, wild East.

    Not the first western tech company to find China is not exactly easy. They won't be the last either.

    1. wayward4now

      Re: Another one bites the dust in the wild, wild East.

      I've worked for several companies who set their sights on China. It was always some middle manager who wanted to put a notch on his marketing gun. So they went to China, with their large nuts in a wheelbarrow, the Chinese politely picked their brains, fed them Peking Roast Duck, and showed them the way back to the airport. Dumb bastards always came back with glowing reports. Nothing ever happened except the Chinese opened a new factory to produce what we taught them for free. Here's something to consider. Westerners are hairier than the Chinese. Ergo, we are closer to the apes. Nixon had to be viewed as a silverback with that 5 O'clock shadow.

      Ook! Ook!

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    At least they were honest about it..

    Unlike Google, Uber didn't attempt a whinge about espionage and Human Rights to avoid mentioning it simply didn't gain any market traction. That being said, Uber harping on about Human Rights would have been merely funny anyway :)

    1. Charlie Clark Silver badge

      Re: At least they were honest about it..

      You only moan about human rights when you can't get a monopoly. After all that's what "disruption" is all about, isn't it?

POST COMMENT House rules

Not a member of The Register? Create a new account here.

  • Enter your comment

  • Add an icon

Anonymous cowards cannot choose their icon

Other stories you might like