UBER: Targets Chinese Travelers via WeChat — But IPO Fallout Still Lingers

Court: N.D. California

Case: 3:19-cv-06361

Uber UBER is re-entering the Chinese consumer landscape — not on local streets, but in the hands of Chinese outbound tourists. The company has launched a Mini Program inside the WeChat app, allowing Chinese users to book and pay for international Uber rides without downloading the Uber app or needing foreign payment methods. But even as the company expands globally, its $200M IPO settlement remains a legal overhang for investors.

📲 Uber’s Strategic Move via WeChat

• Chinese users can now book Uber rides abroad directly through WeChat, using WeChat Pay or WeChat Pay HK.
• The program has already launched in Hong Kong and Japan, with rollouts planned in nine more countries, including the U.S., U.K., and France.
• The Mini Program is fully localized, supporting simplified Chinese and familiar in-app navigation.
• Uber aims to capture a slice of the 130+ million Chinese tourists traveling abroad each year.
• Uber previously exited China in 2016, selling its local business to Didi; this marks a global growth pivot rather than a domestic re-entry.

🧾 But Legal Fallout From the IPO Still Casts a Long Shadow

• 📆 Timeline OverviewMay 9, 2019: Uber goes public, raising $8.1B in its IPO.Aug 8, 2019: Reports $5.24B quarterly loss, stock drops >20%.Oct 4, 2019: Investors file lawsuit over misleading IPO disclosures.
• 💼 Allegations IncludeMisleading investors about financial stability and growth strategy.Ignoring serious safety concerns, including thousands of sexual assault cases and fatalities before IPO.Operating illegally in multiple countries to drive growth (e.g., Tanzania, Brazil, India, China).Concealing the unsustainability of its "growth at all costs" business model.
• 💰 Investor UpdateUber agreed to pay $200 million to settle claims from IPO investors who suffered losses from misstatements about safety, compliance, and financial risk.

👉 You can check more information about it and file for a payout HERE.