Chinese ride-hailing group Didi Chuxing plans to relaunch its Hitch carpooling tool on a trial basis with an effective curfew for women using its service after its drivers murdered two female passengers last year.
The lossmaking start-up is hoping the tool will shore up its bottom line as it faces new competition at home and large capital demands for its robo-taxi business and international expansion.
The service was halted last year after the murders. In a subsequent damning investigation, China’s transport ministry said that SoftBank-backed Didi had “ lost control” of its drivers and vehicles and suspended its carpooling service indefinitely.