Mobike enters US market in DC

Mobike, one of China's largest bike sharing companies, has launched services in Washington, DC, becoming the third Chinese bike sharing company to enter the US market following Ofo and Bluegogo.

Mobike, one of China's largest bike sharing companies, launches its bike sharing services in Washington DC on Tuesday, September 19, 2017. [Photo: Agencies]

The United States is now Mobike's seventh overseas market, which also include Britain, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

"The bikes will be initially launched at some areas with high demand in the city like the downtown area and schools," said Jamie Moore, US spokesperson for Mobike. "We will later launch more bikes in the areas with high usage rates based on the data analysis."

Similar to use in China, the shared bikes are unlocked by scanning QR codes. In launching its service, Mobike is promising to adhere closely to US traffic laws to avoid urban clutter.

Mobike, one of China's largest bike sharing companies, launches its bike sharing services in Washington DC on Tuesday, September 19, 2017. [Photo: Agencies]

"The launch of our bikes in Washington will become the first step, and also an essential step, for our company to enter into the North American market," said Hu Weiwei, the founder of Mobike. "We hope we can find our way into more American cities."

Mobike has partnered with AT&T and Qualcomm as its technical service providers in the US.

Shared bikes have become hugely popular in China, with an estimated 16 million shared bikes on streets across China.

It's estimated the industry now employs around 100,000 people.

(Xinhua contributed to the story)