China's top car-hailing app draws 21 million drivers

BEIJING - On-demand mobility company Didi has attracted more than 21 million people to drive for it, the company said Tuesday.

Nearly 4 million of the drivers were workers laid-off from traditional industries, such as iron and steel, amid China's capacity-cutting efforts, the company said, citing a recent survey examining the growth of its driver community.

A total 1.8 million were former soldiers looking for re-employment, and 2 million drivers were women, the company said in the press release.

The platform helps generate 170 yuan ($25.7) of per capita income for about 2.6 million drivers every day, mostly with diverse professional backgrounds, working on a part-time basis, it said.

Didi President Jean Liu last month in New York said that 25 million rides took place every day via the app.

After acquiring Uber's China operation last year, Didi dominates the country's car hailing business.