Uber already knows this. That's why they've partnered with Baidu and raised $2B from Chinese investors recently.
You really think Travis is going to lose in China? This isn't Google China in 2009. Travis partnered with the crazy guy who got Google kicked out of China.
I won't speculate that Uber will be dominate in China but there's no way they're going away anytime soon.
> You really think Travis is going to lose in China? This isn't Google China in 2009. Travis partnered with the crazy guy who got Google kicked out of China.
You really think the Chinese government is going to hand over the country's taxi market to a foreign led/managed/owned company? LOL
The fact that you are comparing Travis to the CCP in the same sentence is laughable, as if he has some magical power that will allow him to defy papa Xi in his own country!
China is merely allowing Uber to experiment and establish the concept of ride-sharing in China. Once that happens they will steamroll them over using every trick in the book, including ironically, lots of regulation!
Sure why not? Microsoft is the leading computer operating system in China. Android and iOS are the top mobile operating systems. All are U.S. led/managed/owned companies.
To address your second point about regulation, Didi Kuaidi doesn't escape regulation any more than Uber does.
Uber raised $2B from Chinese investors and is partnered with Baidu. I never said Uber will win the taxi market in China, because that's incredibly hard, but to "LOL" and call my statement "laughable" I believe is a little off considering their strategy.
It's laughable not because of "their strategy", but because your statement displays a lack of understanding (complete imo) about how business is done (and has always been done) in China. It is a very naive view, made especially so by your "do you really think Travis would _allow_ ..." as if Travis has ANY control in China.
MS, Android, etc. those are outliers and every story has one. The reality is, the vast majority of foreign companies looking to dominate Chinese market share have met their demise.
I would say _especially_ so for companies that are displacing local operators.
Just think how mad the US taxi industry is about Uber. Now imagine if Uber is owned/operated by Jose in Mexico City. You think our politicians wouldn't regulate the hell out of it? You expect less from the Chinese?
In regards to Didi Kuaidi. Sure they'll be regulated too, but when it comes down to the wire who do you think the government will side with?
I agree to disagree. It's impossible to predict the future but if I was forecasting Uber's future in China, I believe they have a good chance of succeeding. That's just my opinion.
I respect that you have a different opinion but you shouldn't assume so easily.
I recently worked for a Chinese software company for over three years. I helped them IPO in China last year before the Chinese stock market collapsed. I know how hard it is to breakthrough in China because my last company had more success in North America and EMEA than APAC. Chinese regulation is hard but I'll side with Uber any day because I believe in Travis and his team, even if you don't.
> I respect that you have a different opinion but you shouldn't assume so easily.
You are assuming my opinion is easily formed, when it is based off of lots of experience in China and discussions with a wide network of people with even more experience in China.
Uber may succeed in China, but it will be at the blessing of the CCP (another HN commentator raises one possibility: if Chinese investors own a majority of the company). To think "Travis and his team" have any real control in China is - no offense - totally naive.
I think your view is naive because you think Travis and his "strategy" have any bearing on Uber's long-term success in China.
The only strategy that matters is how to curry favor with, and kowtow to, the Chinese leadership and central to that strategy, unfortunately, is not being majority foreign owned/operated (especially by Americans).
> My statements aren't "laughable" or "totally naive." You just want to be right huh?
Now you're just projecting.
Your view is in the minority, even here on HN. If you were to take this view to more China-centric online communities, you'll find even fewer supporters.
"Laughable" is mean-spirited, but "naive" is a fitting description.
I'm not projecting. You just think you're right because you're Chinese.
You know honestly I didn't have an issue with your feedback except that you overreached when you said my comments were "LOL", "naive" and "laughable." That's offensive and arrogant. But you don't stop there, you keep attacking me!
"Your view is in the minority, even here on HN. If you were to take this view to more China-centric online communities, you'll find even fewer supporters."
You don't think I have Chinese friends? You're assuming once again.
And my view is the minority according to YOU! You don't have census data of the world, just your network, so stop attacking every response I have to prove your point!
Wait five years and we'll see who's right about Uber in China. You don't need to keep attacking me every time. It's rude.
Xiaomi employs Hugo barras, former head of android. China has the source code to Windows (not sure if current versions). And on top of all that no Chinese person uses googles ecosystem on android and they cannot use many of iOS features like Apple Pay. They jailbreak and side load apps.
For Chinese (and Indian) economies, the recent VC boom has been a significant conduit to siphon foreign dollars directly into consumer economies. The govt's have mostly kept a handsoff approach as long it's basically acting as a consumer economy stimulus funded by the VC. If any of these businesses become significant profit drivers, you can bet your last dime that local competition will find ways win those markets using whatever means necessary (more easily in China than India... but still).
> You really think Travis is going to lose in China? This isn't Google China in 2009. Travis partnered with the crazy guy who got Google kicked out of China.
Yea, probably. He's done pretty well in most markets, but China isn't most markets.
Yes they can partner with Baidu but at the end of the day, its all about whether the CCP have Uber on a leash. If the CCP can force Walmart to capitulate and accept unions then I'm sure Uber will capitulate as well and change their core values or possibly even control and influence to the CCP via a board member.
I agree that Uber isn't going to lose outright with how they intend to fight in China and I'm actually excited to see how much Uber will change to become CCP acceptable. If Uber wants to win, it will have to sacrifice a lot more than just money.
You really think Travis is going to lose in China? This isn't Google China in 2009. Travis partnered with the crazy guy who got Google kicked out of China.
I won't speculate that Uber will be dominate in China but there's no way they're going away anytime soon.
Reference to Li (CEO of Baidu), expiring Google in China - https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Google-blocked-in-China