SHANGHAI, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Uber competitor Didi Kuaidi formally launched a bus-hailing service Monday that will allow tourist and bus leasing companies to summon 51-seat coaches.
The service was launched in beta format during the summer in Beijing and Shenzhen. It provided more 1,500 rides a day along more than 700 routes during the trial run.
The company says it has served more than 500,000 people since its launch.
Didi Bus will charge an average of $1.10 to $2.04 per ride. The cost is cheaper than a conventional taxi or the company's own private vehicles, which became legal in the country on Oct. 8.
The cost is three to five times higher, however, than the fare for public buses in China. Additionally, the buses will only run along specific routes that the company predetermines. The company announced plans to add new routes but did not release specifics.
The buses, which will also feature Wi-Fi, are meant to add to existing public transportation and not replace it. The service is designed to service longer commutes such as those from airports to city centers and tourist destinations.
The company will also provide special versions of the service for use by technology firms in China, such as Lenovo and Huawei, that want to provide comfortable commutes for their employees.
Speaking about Didi Bus, the company said it will provide "efficient, flexible and environmentally-friendly transportation solutions for China's ongoing urbanization process."
