Chinese ride-sharing giant Didi has intensified its drive for global business, launching in Melbourne yesterday as it joins rivals Uber, Taxify and Ola in Australia’s taxi market, reports AFP from Melbourne.

Didi Chuxing claims to be the world’s leading mobile transportation platform with more than 450 million users, and its latest expansion is part of attempts to rival American behemoth Uber.

The Beijing-based firm launched in Mexico this year and entered the Brazilian market when it bought 99 Taxis. It is also in partnership with other players covering more than 1,000 cities around the world.