Multi-sector How are people in China getting around?

UBS Evidence Lab looks at use of ride-on-demand apps and traffic congestion to gauge activity in China relative to pre-COVID-19 levels.

19 Jun 2020
  • China ride-on-demand apps' share of total app use sessions has risen by 5x since bottoming in late February and is now close to pre-pandemic levels.
  • Ride-on-demand app usage per weekly active user reached a low in late February-early March.
  • Since then, usage has steadily increased, hitting a high in early May up 2.3x since the early March lows.
  • Ride-on-demand usage is now down ~8% from the early May high.
  • Traffic congestion in major Chinese cities has been rising; in Shanghai, it is now 75% of the 2019 level.
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China Ride-on-Demand Apps: Share of Total Sessions

Source: UBS Evidence Lab, QuestMobile

China Ride-on-Demand: Time Spent per Weekly Active User

Source: UBS Evidence Lab, QuestMobile

Traffic Congestion in Major Chinese Cities Relative to 2019

Source: UBS Evidence Lab, TomTom

Note: Relative Congestion is traffic congestion relative to 2019 levels and is calculated as 7-dayrolling average