DiDi letting Aussies haggle fares up to 90 per cent but only in 22 locations

Rideshare service DiDi is introducing a new fare negotiation model and says it will help Aussies feeling the cost-of-living pinch save money.

The platform, which is the second-largest in the country behind Uber, has launched the new DiDi Negotiate feature in 22 cities across the country, along with Auckland in New Zealand.

Riders are able to enter their destination as normal and nominate their suggested fare for available drivers to see. Drivers can either accept the original offer, or send a counter offer for the rider to consider.

DiDi has launched a new fare model it says will help those facing cost of living pressures. (Source: Getty)

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Once both the rider and driver agree, the ride will be accepted with a 10 per cent service fee applying to trips. This is lower than the 18 per cent service fee for the standard express service.

“Passengers can negotiate the fare down to 90 per cent of the original price, and can opt to increase the fare by up to twice the original fare,” DiDi Australia spokesperson Dan Jordan told Yahoo Finance.

The catch is the new barter-style service is predominately available in regional areas, with DiDi noting there were no current plans to extend the model to other locations in Australia.

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“DiDi has launched this service into areas where we see a great opportunity to draw more passengers to rideshare, and therefore provide greater earning opportunities for local drivers. This potential is greater in areas with lower rideshare adoption, largely in regional areas,” Jordan said.

And while negotiating down the price would be good news for riders and allow them to accept a fare in their budget, there is a risk that riders may end up accepting lower pay to get customers.

Here's what the new DiDi feature looks like. (Source: DiDi)

Jordan stressed that drivers were “not obligated to accept negotiated fees” and said the company hoped the new model would encourage more riders to use the rideshare platform.

“We believe that DiDi Negotiate will deliver savings for our passengers, but also entice more Aussies to try rideshare and therefore create greater earning opportunities for our drivers,” he said.

DiDi Negotiate is available Ballarat, Bendigo, Bunbury, Bundaberg, Busselton, Cairns, Canberra, Central Coast, Coffs Harbour, Geelong, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton, Shepparton/Mooroopna, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, Wagga Wagga and Wollongong.

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