City intensifies crackdown on illegal car-hailing services

The local transportation commission is now heavily cracking down on illegal online ride-hailing cars in the city to prevent unfair competition and regulate the city's taxi market.

The citywide campaign is set to last at least half a month.

According to the commission's law enforcement team, officers have been dispatched to public places, especially transportation hubs like airports and railway stations.

On Friday morning at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, law enforcement officers were seen checking vehicles together with police.

Within half an hour, three unlicensed online ride-hailing cars had been caught by officers. Two of them were hailed on popular ride-hailing site Zuche.com, while the other was booked on travel brand Qunar.com.

Although the two companies the cars belong to do offer car rental services, none of the drivers were licensed to carry passengers.