Uber’s New Way to Reach Chinese Travelers Runs Through WeChat
Photo Credit: A Chinese tourist in Japan. Freepik / tawatchai07
Skift Take
Uber has found its way back to users in China, just not on Chinese roads. It's targeting Chinese outbound travelers by partnering with the app nearly everyone in China uses: WeChat.
Uber on Monday announced the launch of a Mini Program inside Chinese social media superapp WeChat (called Weixin in China). The program allows users to book and pay for rides in other countries without downloading the Uber app or entering foreign payment information.
Uber said travelers can simply log in with their WeChat account, search for a ride and pay through WeChat Pay or WeChat Pay HK, depending on their region.
The feature is already live in Hong Kong and Japan and will expand to nine more markets, including the U.S., U.K. and France.
“By embedding Uber into Weixin, we’re making overseas travel easier for Chinese users at every step,” Pradeep Parameswaran, head of mobility for Uber, said in a r
