China’s Didi restructures key units to improve safety following passenger deaths – TechCrunch
What happened: Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi announced on Dec. 5 a series of structural reorganizations to improve safety following the murder of two users. The company will merge Didi Express, Premier and Luxe, its car-hailing offerings into a single business unit. Its bike rental, designated driver, and public transport units are moved to a single entity. Two senior positions, a chief safety officer and a chief security officer, will be added to oversee its emergency management.
Why it’s important: The murder of two passengers in May and September has exposed Didi and China’s ride-hailing industry to increased scrutiny, both from regulatory authorities and the public. Didi Hitch, the carpool service the victims used will “remain suspended indefinitely” as the company revamps security measures. The reshuffle also allows the company to explore retail opportunities including car sales, maintenance, and loans to provide its drivers with extra services and support.