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.
- 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.
Back to Covid-19 insights
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
