Uber drives into Beijing with vehicle app

US-based mobile app Uber officially launched its car service in Beijing on Monday, and is expanding to six Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Uber started its test operations in Beijing two months ago.

It now operates in 140 cities in 39 countries, including 25 cities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Uber invented the car-calling mobile app. It is similar to apps in China that work with taxi drivers but partners with car service companies instead.