After graduating from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Wei held several jobs before joining the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. Over eight years, he worked his way up to become vice president for Alibaba's online payment service, Alipay.

In September 2010, Yongche, the first Chinese Uber clone, was launched, marking the initial entry of Uber-like services in the Chinese market.

DiDi Chuxing, also known as DiDi, is a mobile transportation company founded in 2012 and headquartered in Beijing. It has grown to become one of the world's largest ride-hailing companies, serving millions of users across various continents.

In June 2012, Didi Dache was founded, marking the beginning of Didi's journey in the transportation industry.

In August 2012, Kuaidi Dache was founded, adding to the competition and development of transportation services in China.

In September 2012, DiDi launched its taxi service, providing an intelligent request-dispatching system for taxi companies in China, Japan, and Brazil.

Tencent invested $15 million in Didi Dache, which was backed by Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings Limited.

In May 2013, Kuaidi Dache initiated a cooperation with the mobile payment app Alipay, signifying a strategic move in the transportation market.

In August 2013, the Chinese government officially recognized Didi along with three other taxi apps. This recognition marked a significant milestone in the development of Didi's services.

In November 2013, Kuaidi acquires the fourth largest taxi app Dahuangfeng, consolidating its position in the industry.

Jean Qing Liu joined DiDi in 2014 and has been instrumental in the company's rapid growth.

In February 2014, Uber China is launched, introducing luxury car services in contrast to the existing taxi-hailing apps Didi and Kuaidi.

In April 2014, DiDi launched the Premier service, which includes a 24/7 customer service hotline in Chinese and English, as well as services for specific needs such as vehicles equipped with child seats and adapted vehicles for riders with disabilities.

In December 2014, Baidu invests in Uber China, joining internet giants Alibaba and Tencent in the competitive taxi-app market.

In 2015, DiDi and Kuaidi Dache engaged in a price war, leading to significant financial losses for both companies. Following the merger, the newly-formed combined company became one of the largest ride-sharing apps, valued at approximately $6 billion.

In February 2015, under pressure from investors, Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache merge to become Didi Kuaidi, later renamed to Didi Chuxing, expanding its services beyond basic taxi-calling.

On Valentine’s Day in 2015, Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache, its major domestic rival, announced a plan to merge and rebranded as Didi Chuxing. The merger raised concerns about potential violation of China’s anti-monopoly law.

In May 2015, DiDi introduced the Express service, which matches riders traveling in the same direction with an available shared car, carrying over 2.4 million daily rides in 2018.

In June 2015, Didi Chuxing was fined $1.2 billion by the Cyberspace Administration of China for unlawfully collecting vast troves of user data, posing a serious threat to national security.

Didi Kuaidi completed a US$2 billion fundraising round, bringing the company's cash reserves to over US$3.5 billion. The fundraise is ranked as the world's largest single fundraising round by any private company at that time.

In 2015, DiDi Kuaidi invested $100 million in Lyft and formed a ridesharing alliance to compete with Uber.

On July 28, 2016, China implemented a national level policy to legalize ride-hailing, making it the first nation to do so nationwide.

Three days after the new policy was implemented, Didi Chuxing acquired Uber China, including its brand, business, and data, and took over its operations on the mainland.

A WeChat article accusing Didi of ignoring sexual harassment claims went viral, drawing attention to the company's approach to addressing such serious allegations.

A female user of Didi Hitch, a carpooling service, was killed by her driver. The app allowed drivers to view detailed information about the passenger, including personal details and reviews, leading to safety concerns.

Didi took down its Hitch service for 'rectification' following the safety concerns and the incident of a user being killed by a driver.

Didi suspended its night-time road sharing service, possibly in response to safety issues and public concerns.

Rumors surfaced about Didi planning an IPO in Hong Kong in the second half of 2018, indicating potential expansion and financial developments.

Didi resumed part of its night-time Hitch services, allowing drivers to pick up same-sex passengers only, possibly as a safety measure.

Another female user of Didi Hitch was murdered by her driver, leading to the suspension of the Hitch service again. The company admitted fault and acknowledged operational loopholes.

Didi was summoned by local authorities in Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Wuhan, Guiyang, and Haikou, following earlier meetings demanded by Beijing, Tianjin, and Nanjing. This indicates a widespread investigation into Didi's operations by various local authorities in China.

Beijing announced an investigation into the merger between Didi Chuxing and Uber China regarding potential monopoly charges, indicating ongoing regulatory scrutiny and potential antitrust concerns.

Didi announced it dismissed more than 80 employees in 2018 after its compliance staff found cases of internal corruption, fraud, bribes, or information security breaches. This highlights the company's actions to address internal governance issues.

In March 2019, DiDi launched ride-hailing services in Newcastle, Australia.

In April 2019, DiDi launched a taxi-hailing service in Tokyo and Kyoto.

In June 2019, a Didi driver fled to avoid the police in Shanghai, injuring three pedestrians and a police officer. The driver was found to be ineligible to work for the ride-hailing service in Shanghai, leading to a fine for Didi due to slack management.

In July 2019, Toyota invested $600 million in DiDi in a corporate round of financing.

In August 2019, Didi was ordered to pay fines for failing to weed out unqualified drivers on its platform in Shanghai. The crackdown resulted in a significant reduction in the number of Didi vehicles in circulation in Shanghai.

On October 30, 2019, a picture of one of Didi's buildings in Beijing was taken.

In November 2019, DiDi was scheduled to commence ride sharing services in Perth, Western Australia, and also launched operations in Costa Rica.

In December 2019, Didi Chuxing piloted mandatory audio recording as a safety feature during long rides on its Hitch service. This move was accompanied by a tragic incident where the owner of a car fleet company attempted suicide and blamed Didi for putting his company out of business.

In late 2020, Didi began discussing IPO plans with its bankers at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase & Co. The company weighed whether to go public in Hong Kong or the U.S., and was seeking a valuation of as much as $100 billion.

In March 2020, Didi resumed limited nighttime operations of its carpooling service Hitch in some cities across China, while implementing stricter identity checks for drivers and passengers.

In May 2020, DiDi raised $500 million from SoftBank and For Good Ventures in a venture round of financing.

In July 2020, Didi is in the early stages of preparation for an initial public offering in Hong Kong.

In August 2020, DiDi launched its service in Kazan, Russia.

In October 2020, Reuters reports that Didi is considering listing in Hong Kong in 2021.

In November 2020, DiDi announced its entry into the New Zealand market.

Didi spun off its unprofitable community group buying business, aiming to restructure its operations for better financial performance.

Didi was ordered to pay a penalty of RMB 500,000 for insufficiently disclosing three acquisitions and investments for antitrust reviews, including a takeover of a Shenzhen-based car rental firm.

Didi, Meituan, and other on-demand transport companies were warned by the Ministry of Transport for violations ranging from monopolistic practices to poor treatment of workers.

On June 10, 2021, Didi filed for a share listing, coinciding with reports of China's market regulator opening an antitrust probe into the company. Didi had dismissed these reports as 'unsubstantiated speculation.'

On June 16, 2021, SAMR initiated an investigation into Didi on suspicion of anti-competitive practices, including the manipulation of ride prices and squeezing out smaller rivals. This investigation followed Didi's acknowledgment of completing a self-inspection to correct monopolistic practices as required by regulators.

On June 28, 2021, Didi approved the IPO, but with strict confidentiality measures, including no press release and minimal internal communication. This decision marked a significant milestone for the company.

Didi, a Chinese tech company, made its initial public offering (IPO) in the United States on June 30, 2021.

China's year-long investigation into Didi concluded with authorities imposing a $1.2 billion fine on the ride-hailing giant for alleged violations in cybersecurity, data security, and personal information protection.

On July 4, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) ordered the takedown of Didi's apps from app stores due to serious problems regarding the illegal and irregular use of personal information collection. This action was based on the Cyber Security Law, and Didi was asked to rectify the existing problems and protect the security of users' personal information.

The Cyberspace Administration of China expressed concerns about Didi's app collecting and displaying mapping information, potentially revealing sensitive government personnel locations. They also advised Didi to postpone its IPO until a cyber security review was conducted.

On July 6, 2021, Didi faced a lawsuit from US shareholders. The lawsuit was related to certain actions or decisions taken by Didi, leading to legal action by the shareholders.

Didi Chuxing has maintained its dominance in the Chinese ride-hailing market with no serious challenger since acquiring Uber. Legal and regulatory support, along with significant investment, have contributed to its continued success.

China's market regulator fined internet companies, including Didi Chuxing, Tencent, and Alibaba, for not reporting earlier merger and acquisition deals for approval, citing the country’s anti-monopoly laws. The fines were 500,000 yuan each case, with Didi's subsidiaries involved in 8 of the 22 deals.

Chinese officials urged Didi to postpone its share sale due to concerns that IPO documents required by U.S. regulators could contain sensitive information. The Chinese government wanted to ensure that the documents presented to U.S. regulators did not include any sensitive data. This request was related to the issue of audit working papers and the demand for U.S.-listed Chinese companies to hand over audit documents for U.S. regulators' inspection.

The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered more than two dozen additional apps tied to Didi to be banned from China’s app stores, alleging illegal collection of user data.

Chinese authorities, including the Cyberspace Administration of China and other relevant ministries, initiate an investigation into Didi's data security, making it the first major internet company to undergo a cybersecurity review.

Chinese regulators are considering imposing significant penalties on Didi, including fines, operational suspensions, or the introduction of a state-owned investor. The possibility of forced delisting or withdrawal of Didi's U.S. shares is also being discussed.

Didi's shares experience a significant drop to almost $8, starting from an initial trading price of $14.40 and reaching a peak of $18.01.

Rumors circulate about Didi's potential decision to go private and provide compensation to investors.

The city of Xi'an issues an order for Didi to ban unlicensed vehicles, posing a threat to over half of Didi's fleet in the city. The order follows an investigation revealing that a significant portion of vehicles on Didi's platform lacked proper licenses and failed to meet regulatory requirements.

Didi proposes ceding management of its data to a private third party in an attempt to appease the powerful internet industry overseer. Regulators have indicated a preference for the third party to be state-controlled.

Alibaba's chairman and Tencent's president counsel Didi to defer its New York listing. Didi also completes a technical upgrade of its smartphone apps to comply with Chinese regulators' demands on data collection, mapping, and user privacy.

Didi updates its driver app to provide a detailed breakdown of a driver's income for each ride and the share a driver earns from each passenger payment over a seven day period, aiming to boost transparency in billing for drivers.

Didi is reported to be helping workers establish their first union, as per Bloomberg reports.

Chinese regulators order Didi to rectify instances of what the government considers misconduct, including recruiting unlicensed drivers and the need to strengthen user data protections.

Beijing's municipal government proposes an investment in Didi that would give state-run firms control of the world's largest ride-hailing company.

Didi denied media reports that the Beijing municipal government was leading a proposal to invest in the company, dispelling speculations about state control.

Reuters reported that Didi's president Jean Liu would leave the company in a few weeks, amid the regulatory crisis. Didi denied the report.

Didi has set up a committee led by its founder to oversee the overhaul of its data management. The committee, named Information and Data Security (IDS), marks a significant departure from the previous practice and is aimed at enhancing data security.

Didi’s co-founder and President Jean Liu has expressed her intention to step down, anticipating the government to take control of Didi and appoint new management. This indicates a significant change in the leadership of the company.

Didi refuted a Reuters report about president Jean Liu leaving, expressing that the report was false and threatening legal action to combat the spreading of rumors.

Didi is gearing up to relaunch its ride-hailing and other apps in China by the end of the year, in anticipation of the completion of Beijing’s cybersecurity investigation. The company has also allocated a substantial amount for a potential fine, reflecting its efforts to address regulatory concerns.

Chinese regulators have requested Didi’s top executives to devise a plan to delist from U.S. bourses due to concerns about the leakage of sensitive data. This indicates the escalating regulatory pressure on Didi and its operations.

Didi prepares to exit from New York, indicating a significant strategic decision amid its ongoing challenges.

Didi has confirmed its decision to delist from the New York stock exchange and pursue a listing in Hong Kong. This move reflects the company's strategic response to regulatory challenges and its aim to strengthen its position in the market.

Didi was fined by three city transport authorities in the eastern Zhejiang province for allocating rides to unlicensed cars and drivers on its main Didi Chuxing app and budget ride-hailing app Huaxiaozhu. This highlights the regulatory scrutiny and compliance issues faced by Didi.

Didi Global was reported to be in talks to launch an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong, signifying its preparation to exit NYSE.

Reuters announced that the Chinese government would permit Didi Global's ride-hailing and other apps back on domestic app stores, with the possibility of the return before Chinese New Year. The Wall Street Journal later confirmed the news and reported significant improvements in the percentage of orders carried out by vehicles and drivers with required government permits.

Didi has announced a significant layoff, affecting 20% of its staff. This decision comes amid a decrease in the number of rides per day and a decline in its market share, indicating the company's efforts to streamline its operations in response to market challenges.

On 21 February 2022, DiDi announced the suspension of services in Russia and Kazakhstan due to financial losses, indicating the company's global operational challenges and strategic decisions.

Didi's plan to delist from the New York stock exchange and pursue a new listing in Hong Kong was halted by regulators due to concerns about the leaking of sensitive data to US authorities.

Didi announced a special shareholder meeting to vote on its 'voluntary' delisting in the United States and confirmed that it will not apply for another listing on any other exchange before completing its delisting from the New York Stock Exchange.

Senior Chinese officials opposed a set of proposed punishments for Didi submitted by the nation’s cybersecurity regulator, deeming the remedies too lenient.

Didi Global revealed that it faces a probe by the US stock market watchdog about its US$4.4 billion IPO in New York, indicating the regulatory scrutiny the company encountered in the US.

In an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), 96.26% of Didi’s shareholders voted in favor of delisting Didi from the New York Stock Exchange.

The government concluded yearlong probes into Didi, preparing to lift a ban on adding new users and allow Didi’s mobile apps back on domestic app stores.

On June 11, 2022, Didi delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.

Didi shares started trading on the over-the-counter market (OTC) after its shareholders voted to delist the company from the NYSE, reflecting the company's shift in its trading platform.

Didi delisted from the New York Stock Exchange but will continue to trade its shares on the over-the-counter (OTC) Wall Street securities market.

Didi Pay, a subsidiary of Didi Chuxing, was formally warned for 12 kinds of illegal acts and fined 4.27 million yuan by the Business Administration Department of the People’s Bank of China.

Chinese authorities are preparing to impose a fine of more than 8 billion yuan on Didi, accounting for about 4.7% of Didi’s total revenue last year.

On July 21, 2022, Didi was fined $1.2 billion for regulatory violations. This event signifies a significant financial penalty imposed on the company.

During a press conference, a CAC official emphasized the need for Didi to carry out rectification to eliminate potential safety risks and intensify law enforcement in network security and data protection. The official also highlighted the importance of safeguarding national network security and data security, as well as protecting social public interests.

New rules effective from 2023 require auditors of U.S.-listed Chinese companies to be based in China, and the U.S. would not have access to the audit papers. This change has implications for the supply of audit documents when doing a U.S. listing.

In August 2023, it was announced that DiDi had agreed to sell its autonomous driving technology unit to the Guangzhou-headquartered electric vehicle manufacturer, Xpeng, in exchange for $744 million worth of shares.