Taxi-hailing merger signals shift to higher-end services

Kuadi-Didi venture looks to chauffeur-driven car business

The merger of China's top two taxi-hailing app providers will help the new platform, backed by Tencent Holdings Ltd and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, to focus on the higher-end car booking business, industry insiders said on Monday.

Giving out subsidies remains the most important way to attract customers, although the merger was meant to cut back investment, they said.