Hello Global offers free rides and gas to users of its car-pooling business

Hello Global, which runs a string of commute solutions from shared bikes to ride-hailing services in China, has allocated 80 million yuan ($11.48 million) to subsidize its car-pooling business Hello Hitch during the upcoming Chinese New Year festival.

The fund includes free rides for 10,000 passengers, subsidies for 10,000 private car owners to fuel their oil tanks, and other random service upgrades for those who use its car-pooling service from Jan 13 to Feb 10.

The company said the move is aimed at reducing commuting costs for passengers while preserving the environment.

Data from the Ministry of Transport showed that the average duration for the Spring Festival season from 2017 to 2019 was 40 days, which witnessed 2.9 billion rides being made each year during the period. Highway transportation was the most common form of commute.

To ensure safety of the riders, Hello Hitch has established a five-step security screening regime, from background study of the driver, automatic itinerary sharing to the setup of emergency contact.

Launched a year ago, the company's car-pooling service has signed 12 million certified drivers, completed 80 million orders covering journey of 6.3 billion kilometers in length.