Uber plans to hire hundreds in China to expand as rivals merge

[SHANGHAI] Uber Technologies Inc, provider of a mobile application that lets people book cars using smartphones, plans to hire hundreds of people in China this year to boost growth and help establish itself in the market.

The ride-hailing app operator is using channels such as LinkedIn Corp.'s website to hire local talent, according to Uber's Beijing-based spokesman Huang Xue. Jobs posted on LinkedIn include operations manager and recruiter positions.

Uber's recruitment drive comes amid the backdrop of the merger of China's two largest taxi-hailing applications, separately backed by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Tencent Holdings Ltd.

The merger of the companies, which control almost 99 per cent of the market according to the official Xinhua News Agency, followed Baidu Inc's decision to buy a stake in Uber.

"China is a key focus for us, and we will continue to invest heavily on our success there," San Francisco-based Uber said in an e-mailed statement.

"That includes hiring great talents to take our business forward across China." Uber declined to specify how many jobs it's offering, saying that it will be in a range of positions. The company currently operates in nine Chinese cities.

Trip and user numbers have seen "double digit" growth in China and the company will expand to more cities, Uber said earlier this month, declining to be more specific.

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