Chinese ride-sharing giant Didi plans entry into Europe

A station for Didi Chuxing’s autonomous driving taxi in Shanghai, China. In Europe, Didi would face a fast-changing regulatory landscape for tech companies and the gig economy. — Reuters

Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing Technology Co plans to make its debut in Western Europe, people familiar with the matter said, as the company seeks new growth markets ahead of a long-awaited initial public offering.

Beijing-based Didi is considering rolling out ride-sharing services in markets that could include the UK, France and Germany by the first half of this year, according to two people briefed on the plan. The company has already set up a team dedicated to the European market and is hiring locally, another person said.