Tech

China's ride-hailing app Didi gets $500 million funding from the parent of Booking.com

Key Points
  • Didi Chuxing has received a $500 million investment from U.S. travel firm Booking Holdings.
  • The funding round was a boost for the ride-hailing app's aggressive plan to enter new markets outside of China.
  • Didi, which is expected to launch an initial public offering some time, is currently valued at $56 billion.
Booking Holdings invests $500 million in 'China's Uber' Didi: CEO
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Booking Holdings invests $500 million in 'China's Uber' Didi: CEO

Chinese ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing has received a $500 million investment from U.S. travel firm Booking Holdings, in a boost for its aggressive plan to enter new markets outside of China.

The two firms announced the investment in a joint statement on Tuesday but its details were not disclosed. Didi, which is expected to launch an initial public offering some time, is currently valued at $56 billion.

Booking Holdings, which changed its name from Priceline earlier this year, will allow users in its apps to hail Didi cars as part of the agreement, they said.

The new funds come as Didi is expanding heavily into several new overseas markets, where it hopes to challenge U.S. ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies.

The company has recently launched services in Mexico, Australia, and Japan, fueled by a $4 billion funding round in December that was earmarked for new markets as well as artificial intelligence (AI.)..

It has also invested in a handful of Uber competitors in other markets, including Brazil's 99, India's Ola, Singapore's Grab and U.S.-based Lyft.

A user holding a smartphone with a Didi Chuxing app.
Zhang Peng | LightRocket | Getty Images

Booking Holdings, which is currently valued at over $97 billion, oversees some of the world's most popular travel booking sites including Bookings.com, Agoda.com, KAYAK, and Priceline.com.

Didi users will also have access to Booking Holdings' services through Didi, the Chinese company said.

China's travel booking market is already heavily dominated by local firms, including Ctrip.com International Ltd, which earlier this year signaled its intention to enter the ride-hailing market, posing a potential challenge to Didi.

Booking Holdings has users and partners in close to 220 countries, while a large majority of Didi's 550 million users are in China.

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