Insiders from ofo have confirmed to local media that ofo’s executive chairman, Chief Financial Officer, and other senior executives went on a “vacation” in July this year. A rift between ride-hailing giant DiDi and bike rental mammoth ofo might be the reason behind the event, Bianews has reported. ofo has since published a statement denying […]
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Bike-rental startup ofo lands series D+ backed by Alibaba’s Ant Financial
The funding spree continues in China’s bike-rental sector. Bike-rental startup ofo announced over the weekend that it raised an undisclosed amount in its Series D+ from Alibaba’s financial arm Ant Financial. Under the deal, ofo cooperate with Ant Financial in the fields of e-payment, credit system and globalization process. The announcement came less than two […]
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Shanghai mulling bike-rental regulations
Shanghai is mulling rules to regulate the sizzling yet reckless development of the city’s bike-rental sector, local media is reporting (in Chinese). The new rules, expected to be introduced in May and come into effect in June or July this year, are the latest government efforts to deal with the growing problems emerging with the bike-rental […]
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How ofo is bringing China’s latest export to the rest of the world
Ofo, China’s latest bike-rental unicorn that Apple CEO Tim Cook paid his tribute to during China visit, is looking beyond the borders of the middle kingdom. “The act of bike-sharing could someday become a lingua franca, connecting people around the world,” said Dai Wei last week at Boao Forum for Asia. The company’s bold global […]
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The saga of the “bike-rental company that wasn’t” continues
Kala Danche (卡拉单车) is back in business. As you may recall, last week we reported that the company had lost over 75% of their bicycles in less than 20 days of operation. Because of that, their only investor made a quick exit, taking all the user deposits with him and triggering a cascade of questions […]
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Ofo founder confirms bike-rental functions will come to Didi app
Editor’s note: A version of this post first appeared on Yicai Global, the English-language financial news service of Shanghai Media Group. Yicai Global is one of just two dedicated Chinese news feeds connected to the Bloomberg terminal. Ofo, one of China’s many bike-rental brands, will be incorporated into Didi Chuxing, the world’s largest ride-hailing platform, according […]
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Ofo hits Australia while Bluegogo struggling to refund deposits
Ofo is taking over another global city: after conducting a pilot program in Adelaide in South Australia, the company is putting their small yellow bikes in Sydney. Ofo also announced that it will double its fleet in Adelaide. On the other hand, its Chinese rival Bluegogo seems to be facing difficulties. The company has denied […]
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Ofo bike-rental feature rumored to be added to Didi app in April
Ofo’s bicycle-rental feature is expected to be accessible to users within ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing’s app in April, signaling the bike-rental startup’s another step in an escalating race with competitors for market supremacy, our sister site TechNode Chinese is reporting (in Chinese). Didi Chuxing declined to comment when contacted by TechNode. Ofo has not responded […]
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Apple CEO visits Chinese startups Ofo and Keep
In his recent visit to China’s capital, Apple CEO Tim Cook went to bike-rental company ofo’s offices on Tuesday, fueling speculation about whether the American technology giant may invest in the Chinese bike-rental startup, our sister site TechNode Chinese is reporting (in Chinese). Accompanied by ofo CEO Dai Wei, Cook visited the startup’s headquarters in Beijing […]
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Beijing drafts regulations mandating smart locks for bike-rentals in the city
The Beijing government is soliciting public opinion on draft guidelines aimed at reining in the disorderly expansion of the city’s bike-rental sector, local media is reporting (in Chinese). The draft guidance provides that rental bikes should meet national and industry standards, and requires rental bikes should be equipped with smart locks and the satellite positioning system. […]
