Chinese car-hailing service provider Didi Chuxing, and Brazil's shared mobility provider 99, announced on Thursday morning that they had forged a strategic partnership.
Under the deal, Didi made a strategic investment in 99 - formerly known as 99Taxis - and will take a seat on 99's board of directors.
Didi will provide guidance and support in areas including technology, product development, operations and business planning as 99 continues to expand across Brazil and the rest of the Latin American market, according to Didi's announcement.
The Brazilian company offers on-demand private car and taxi-hailing services in 550 cities in Brazil, and leads the market in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other first-tier cities, the announcement said. It has more than 140,000 registered drivers, and its app has been downloaded more than 10 million times.
By cooperating, Didi and 99 will share operational experience and knowledge, including data-driven algorithmic capabilities, to explore more sustainable technology for smart city initiatives, the announcement said.
