A Visual Guide To The Twisted Web Created By The Uber-Didi Merger by Mikey Tom, PitchBook
Although the merger between Didi Chuxing and Uber’s China arm consolidated the ridesharing industry in that part of the world, it adds another layer to an already-confusing web of investment and relationships in the ridesharing space. For example, Didi Chuxing previously formed an alliance with Lyft, Ola and GrabTaxi in an effort to stifle Uber’s world domination plans; who knows where those partnerships now sit. Didi has also invested in Lyft, Ola and GrabTaxi, and now as a part of this merger, has invested $1 billion in Uber. On top of all that, Apple earlier this year made a billion-dollar investment in Didi, and now via this merger, has a stake in Uber, which is interesting since both companies are reportedly deeply investing in self-driving car technology. As is Google, which is also an Uber investor. It’s like a convoluted tech-themed episode of Game of Thrones, filled with incestuous relationships, alliances and conflicts galore.
To help you understand all the players and moving pieces, we created a flowchart, included below, that highlights the many intertwining companies that exist in this space. Needless to say, the ridesharing industry is an exciting and confusing place to operate in right now.
