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A Chinese company is preparing to launch ride-hailing services in Uzbekistan, bringing its own vehicles but hiring local drivers, the country’s Ministry of Transport confirmed to Kursiv Uzbekistan on 11 November.
Navruz Ashurmatov, head of the ministry’s press service, said the incoming fleet could number 5,000 or 7,000 cars, but stressed that neither figure had been officially confirmed. The company itself has not disclosed how many vehicles it intends to bring into the country.
The announcement follows the registration in December 2025 of a company called DiDi Taxi LLC in Uzbekistan. The Transport Ministry has not confirmed any connection between that registered entity and the newly announced project. DiDi, the Chinese ride-hailing giant, already operates in 14 countries outside China, with its international business concentrated primarily in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.
Local drivers only
Chinese nationals will not be permitted to work as drivers under Uzbekistan’s existing regulations. A government regulation issued in April 2025 requires taxi drivers to be Uzbek citizens, at least 21 years old, hold a category B driving licence, have a minimum of three years of driving experience, and pass a medical examination. Ashurmatov confirmed the incoming company would be bound by those rules.
A crowded and growing market
The entry would place the unnamed Chinese operator into direct competition with established platforms including Yandex Go, Uklon and WB Taxi. Uzbekistan’s ride-hailing sector has expanded sharply in recent years: in 2025, passengers completed 479 million journeys through registered platforms, generating 9.6 trillion soums in turnover, according to the Tax Committee. Uklon was recognised as the dominant player in the Uzbek taxi market in a separate regulatory finding.
Key details — including the company’s identity, its precise fleet size and a launch timeline — remain undisclosed.