Pre-reading questions:
- What are the different modes of transportation in your country?
- What mode of transportation do you prefer?
Vocabulary:
- ride-hailing [rahyd HEYL-ing]
- investor [in-VEST-uhr]
- expansion [ik-SPAN-shuhn]
- spark [spahrk]
- rivalry [RAHY-vuhl-ree]
(adjective) mode of transportation similar to a taxi but done through an app
Ride-hailing apps are becoming more popular.
(noun) a person who commits capital to a business
The investors brought success to her restaurant.
(noun) process of making a business grow
McDonald’s expansion in Kyoto has been all over the news.
(verb) to cause something to happen
The article sparked happy memories for me.
(noun) a situation in which teams compete with one another
Didi Chuxing, a Chinese ride-hailing app, has announced its’ plans to expand in Brazil. They have signed a union with 99, a ride-hailing company based in Brazil. The deal is worth $600 million. Before the said agreement, Didi was already the lead investor in 99. They have invested over $100 million a year ago. Thus, the agreement is not a surprise to their customers.
Didi Chuxing wants to do more as a company. They are also interested in expanding elsewhere in Latin America. In addition, the company is also planning to bring their business to Mexico. The expansion has sparked the rivalry between Uber and Didi. The two had been fighting each other for years in China before Uber sold its company to Didi in 2016.
Comprehension Questions:
- Which Chinese ride-hailing company will expand in Brazil?
- How much is the deal between Didi and 99?
- What happened between Didi and Uber’s rivalry in China?
- How much did Didi invest in 99 in the past year?
- Where will Didi expand to after Brazil?
Discussion Questions:
- Do you think ride-hailing apps are safe? Why or why not?
- What are the disadvantages of ride-hailing apps?
- What is the most convenient mode of transportation in your country? Discuss.
- Do you think there will be more ride-hailing apps in the future? Please explain your answer.
- How does technology influence your daily routine?