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Is China’s Sharing Economy on Borrowed Time?

November 6, 2017 By Tom Nunlist

The sharing economy exploded in China this year, with companies for all kinds of shareable objects taking part in this new business model. While there are businesses familiar to Westerners—shared offices, cars and rides—there are also ideas that seem a little kooky, such as shared basketballs and umbrellas. Although some call it innovative, many realize these companies are just “rental 2.0” companies, assisted by digital technology. As the concept reaches fever pitch, however, it is also facing a reality check, especially as many firms, ballooned by venture capital funds, start to show signs of failing.

Filed Under: All Articles, Chinese Economy, Creativity, Digital Economy, Innovation, Know China, Technology Tagged With: Airbnb, Mobike, Ofo, Sharing Economy, Uber

Is Didi Chuxing Grappling With a Pyrrhic Victory in China?

December 8, 2016 By Liu Sha

One could be forgiven for thinking that after purchasing Uber’s China operations, Didi Chuxing—which now boasts over 300 million users and over 80% of China’s market—would be on easy street. But things are never that simple in the Chinese market. Figures have shown Didi is losing users and drivers. Under strict Chinese local governments’ new policies, Didi may face bigger challenges than Uber China. Meanwhile more people cast doubts over its business model. Boasting a sharing economy model, car-pooling, the company now relies more on providing car-hailing services with prices lower than taxis to maintain its scale. Once the subsidies withdrew, users walk away.

Filed Under: All Articles, Automobile Industry, China, Consumers, Digital Economy, Know China, Technology, Winning in China Tagged With: Car Rental, Didi Chuxing, Sharing Economy, Technology, Uber

Uber-Didi Merger Ends a Fierce Rivalry for Market Share

September 7, 2016 By Jiang Yaling

The battle for car hailing market share has ended with Uber merging its Chinese business with local rival Didi Chuxing. The merger deal gave Didi a market share of nearly 90%. There are many worries and questions following the deal: will government consider it to be an absolute monopoly? Will passengers pay more and drivers being paid less? How will Didi manage to operate Uber China afterwards? To answer those questions we need to understand the history of Didi Chuxing—how it operated in ‘grey area’ and managed to beat so many other local competitors before it merged with Uber China—find the answer in our article.

Filed Under: All Articles, Know China, Mergers and Acquisitions, Strategy Tagged With: Didi Chuxing, Sharing Economy, Uber

New regulations may hit Didi-Uber and give Yidao Yongche a chance: an interview with Yidao’s CEO

August 22, 2016 By Liu Sha and Deng Yuanyuan

Yidao Yongche was the first car-hailing business in China. At first, the company was badly affected by opposition from local authorities—but later on was hit by the rise of Didi and Uber China, which became popular through subsidies and low prices. In July, Chinese authorities finally legalized car-hailing apps and stipulated that unfair competition, such as steep discounts and subsidies, should stop. So will Yidao seize the opportunity and grow? Zhou Hang, CEO and founder of Yidao, talks about his company and the future of the “internet of cars”.

Filed Under: All Articles, C-Suite Interview, Conversations, Know China, Q&A, Strategy, The Chinapreneurs Tagged With: Didi Dache, Sharing Economy, Uber, Yidao Yongche

Uber China Faces a Massive Challenge in the China Market

July 12, 2016 By Claire van den Heever

Uber China, a massive expansion challenge

Doing business in China has never been easy for foreign-owned companies, but Uber has largely managed to avoid conflict by operating as a separate Chinese subsidiary, Uber China, on the mainland. However, Uber China still faces many challenges: competing with Didi, not being profitable, and even worse, its business has always been riding on a government regulation fence. In a market that is as challenging, and competitive as China’s, the answer to winning over China’s smartphone users lies deeper than just competitive pricing or partnerships.

Filed Under: All Articles, Automobile Industry, Consumers, Multinationals in China, O2O, Policy and Law Tagged With: Competition, Didi Dache, O2O, Uber

Market Entry: To Boldly Go Where Others Have Gone Before

December 22, 2015 By Brian Viard

The opening of the 1960s television show Star Trek which followed the voyages of the Starship Enterprise explained that its crew’s mission was “to boldly go where no man has gone before.” For firms the mission can be quite different as they often have to go where others have already gone. Unless a firm is the first to enter a market, it will face one or more incumbents upon entry. In such cases, how should a firm decide whether and where to enter? A look at how this worked out in the case of Uber and Didi Kuaidi in China’s competitive taxi hailing app market.

Filed Under: All Articles, Consumers, ExpertSpeak, Invisible Hand Revealed, Know China Tagged With: Competition, Didi Dache, Invisible Hand Revealed, Taxi App, Uber

How BAT and Xiaomi are investing in other companies

November 10, 2015 By Li Hui

China’s internet world is ruled by three big players: Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent, collectively known as BAT. The three companies generated revenues of $20 billion in 2013 and $8.16 billion in the third quarter of 2014. The big three account for a significant, and perhaps disproportionate, share of China’s internet market. Another technology company that has risen to prominence pretty quickly is Xiaomi. BAT and Xiaomi are quickly making inroads into new areas outside their core business—by either investing in or acquiring companies. Take a look at the brand and companies that are backed by these four companies.

Filed Under: All Articles, Digital Economy, Infographics, Mergers and Acquisitions, O2O Tagged With: Alibaba, Baidu, Didi Dache, Infographics, Investment, Kuaidi Dache, Mergers and Acquisitions, Tencent, Uber, Xiaomi

Didi Dache-Kuaidi Dache Wants to Do More Than Just Drive you Home

May 12, 2015 By Major Tian

Cheng Wei, founder and CEO of Didi Dache, on how the combined entity of Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache will evolve into a full-service transportation platform

Filed Under: All Articles, Best Practice, Digital Economy, Strategy, Technology Tagged With: Alibaba, Competition, Didi Dache, Kuaidi Dache, Slider, Taxi App, Tencent, Uber, Yidao Yongche

Of Rickshaws, Cats and Uber China

April 23, 2015 By Li Hui

Uber China is going all out to woo customers with quirky promotions. Here’s how.

Filed Under: All Articles, Best Practice, Creativity, Marketing, Strategy, Winning in China Tagged With: Didi Dache, Kuaidi Dache, Localization, Marketing Strategy, Slider, Uber, Yidao Yongche

China Roundup: RIP. Yahoo China

March 19, 2015 By Major Tian

This week saw the end of Yahoo China, the Shanghai Composite Index peaked, and Uber found an unlikely partner in the Warren Buffet-backed BYD.

Filed Under: All Articles, Automobile Industry, China Round-up, Digital Economy, Finance, Internet Finance, Know China, Real Estate, Technology Tagged With: Alibaba, BYD, EV, Housing Prices, Slider, Tencent, Uber, Xiaomi, Yahoo, Yu'e Bao

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Information, analysis, and interviews about the Chinese economy and doing business in China, from the people who know it best. Presented by the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, China's leading business school.


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