Didi Chuxing’s main app returns to Apple, Android app stores in China after Beijing gives green light for new user sign-ups

The ‘Didi Chuxing’ ride-hailing app returned to Apple’s store on Thursday, while the Android version was restored by Wednesday on various local platforms

Didi Shunfengche, a car-pooling service, and Uber China, the Didi-owned local platform of the US ride-hailing giant, remained inaccessible on app stores

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The Didi Chuxing app has returned to iOS and Android app stores in China after an 18-month absence. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 4:45pm, 20 Jan 2023

The main app of Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing has returned to China’s iOS and Android app stores, a crucial step for the company to fully resume its business after Beijing banned it from registering new users for 18 months.

The Didi Chuxing app returned to Apple’s store on Thursday, while the Android version was restored by Wednesday on various local platforms, including Huawei’s AppGallery and Xiaomi’s GetApps, according to a person familiar with the matter, who declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak to the media.

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This marks the latest sign of a thaw in tensions between Chinese authorities and the Beijing-based company, after the Cyber Security Review Office – a joint task force of 12 ministries – launched an investigation into the firm in July 2021, just days after it held an initial public offering in New York under the name Didi Global.

The company was subsequently banned from signing up new users, and 26 of its apps became unavailable for download.

As of Friday, at least eight other Didi apps also reappeared, according to a check by the Post. Didi Shunfengche, a car-pooling service, and Uber China, the Didi-owned local platform of the US ride-hailing giant, remained inaccessible on app stores.

Didi did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.