Photo/Didi Chuxing

Mar. 17 (NBD) -- Chinese mobility platform Didi Chuxing launched an "errand running" service in 21 major Chinese cities on Monday, after the COVID-19 outbreak battered ride-hailing demand.

Users can make their orders on the app's newly added "errand" section, and drivers will do the shopping and delivering. The first batch of errand runners are designated drivers registered on the platform and they will do the task with their electric mopeds.

Didi Chuxing trialed the service a week earlier in Hangzhou and Chengdu, where buying grocery, drugs, and other daily life supplies are among the most common errands. Fetching bubble tea and coffee from stores are also popular requests.

As all sectors of the society returns to work and production, more individualized orders, like delivering documents, laundry, and even car washing and gas filling, are growing, Didi Chuxing told NBD.

NBD noted that as more people stay indoor amid the COVID-19 epidemic, mobility platforms have seen significant decline in demands for ride-hailing and designated driver service, while demand for grocery and food delivery surged. 

At least 30 cities in China halted ride-hailing services in February, incomplete statistics shows. According to a report by market research firm Analysys, the industry had suffered a daily loss of over 580 million yuan (82.7 million U.S. dollars) from decreased orders during the Chinese New Year holiday, which would otherwise be a high season for ride services.

The errand service gives drivers a new source of income. Didi Chuxing said it plans to recruit more errand runners from ride-hailing drivers and the society in general. Moreover, the ride-hailing firm will soon launch a speedy courier service where customers can have their items delivered within the city.

Email: gaohan@nbd.com.cn