In Beijing, Qiu Xiaoying's hands have been firmly on the steering wheel for three years. They are hands accustomed to long hours of labor, with little time for rest as she worked to repay her family's 300,000 yuan in debt. Originally, Qiu had no plans to return home for the Spring Festival this year, intending to take on more rides during the holiday to clear the remaining debt. She also harbored a wish: to bring her youngest son from their hometown to Beijing to celebrate the New Year together. DiDi Global Inc.'s "Her Deepest Wish" initiative recognized this mother's longing, leading to a long-awaited reunion between mother and son during the recent holiday.
Qiu's story is a reflection of the millions of female drivers on DiDi's platform. They grip the wheel, steering not just their vehicles but the course of their own lives.
At 45, Qiu Xiaoying hit rock bottom a few years ago. To survive and support her three children, she became a DiDi driver. "There are fewer restrictions; if you're willing to work, you can earn," Qiu said plainly. Driven to repay the debt quickly, she drove during the day and took on side jobs at night, pushing herself relentlessly. After three years of hard work, her debt is nearly cleared. She has not only become the family's pillar but also a team leader at DiDi, guiding over 50 drivers.
Life is improving. Qiu's eldest son is set to join the military after graduating from university this year, and her daughter is studying makeup in the same city. Yet, her youngest son, whom she hasn't seen for a year, remains her deepest concern. To mark International Women's Day and ensure female drivers feel seen, understood, and respected, DiDi once again launched the "Her Deepest Wish" campaign this year. Qiu's wish for a Spring Festival reunion with her son was granted.
"I was so touched and excited when I got the call. I never thought something I wanted so badly, yet felt so distant, would come true," Qiu recalled, still emotional about the moment she heard from the campaign team. During the 2026 Spring Festival, when her six-year-old son ran into her arms, Qiu—who had known only relentless effort—felt tears well up, mingling worry, guilt, and joy. She took her son, who had never traveled far, to Tiananmen Square, watched the flag-raising ceremony, and visited the Forbidden City—places she had driven passengers to countless times but never experienced herself. Finally, she was a tourist, hand in hand with family. Her three years of struggle had taken tangible shape.
In Shenzhen, Chen Peixin, a ride-hailing driver with a decade of experience, found a sense of social responsibility beyond the wheel. Having witnessed numerous road accidents and once feeling helpless without first-aid knowledge, Chen didn't hesitate to join DiDi's "Public Welfare Rescue" project when it launched in 2024. She believes in lifelong learning and aims to set a positive example for her children. The project offers regular training in CPR, water rescue, and post-disaster sanitation. Chen earned certifications from AHA and the Red Cross, along with a license to operate inflatable boats. "The certification standards are the same for men and women, but in rescue operations, women often have an edge with their approachability and attention to detail," Chen stated confidently.
Chen applies this knowledge to her work, proactively sharing outdoor safety tips with backpacker-style passengers, emphasizing prevention over rescue. Since joining the project, she has participated in 87 volunteer activities, logging 568.7 service hours. In 2025, when Typhoon Hagibis struck, she responded to disaster relief efforts without hesitation, provided medical support for the Shenzhen Marathon for two consecutive years, and joined DiDi's in-car AED volunteer team. For her, this is more than volunteer work—it's a journey to self-worth.
Chen Minna, a 39-year-old Hani ethnic driver, tried several jobs to balance work with caring for her two school-age children before settling on the flexible schedule of driving for DiDi. A participant in last year's "Her Deepest Wish" campaign, Chen wished to visit a childhood friend in Jiangsu whom she hadn't seen in over a decade. DiDi arranged a chartered ride from Hangzhou to Yancheng, making her dream a reality. That day, she savored home-cooked dishes prepared by her friend, and the two talked through the night.
A year later, life hasn't changed dramatically. Chen Minna still drives daily, earning a steady income. "Though we haven't met again, my mindset has shifted," she said, touching the silver bracelet—a Hani family heirloom—on her wrist. After her wish was fulfilled, her anxiety eased. She no longer rushes for orders, believing that effort yields results. "Life is simple, but quite good," she remarked. This may be the reality for most female drivers: no grand dramas, just daily perseverance and humble hopes for the future.
For DiDi's female drivers, ordinary lives are moving from being "seen" to receiving tangible support. Historically, ride-hailing industry rules were built on universal standards, often overlooking the unique physiological and psychological needs of women. To address this oversight, DiDi launched the "Women-Friendly Plan," aiming to meet women's safety and health concerns.
Chen Minna feels the impact deeply. When she started driving, she feared encountering drunk male passengers at night, often feeling nervous. Later, the platform introduced an option for female passengers to prioritize female drivers. Now, when Chen works past 11 p.m. on weekends, she frequently receives consecutive orders from women, which puts her at ease. The plan allows female drivers to opt in or out of prioritizing female passengers, offering flexibility. Platform data show that passengers use this feature most during late-night trips, suburban travel, transit hub pickups, and when traveling with children, confirming specific scenarios where women's needs differ.
Additionally, for this year's Women's Day, DiDi rolled out a "Female Driver Care Plan," including safety measures, events, benefits, and a trial in over 100 cities of a reputation score protection benefit for female drivers. Typically, irregular driving affects a driver's score. Now, female drivers can choose to rest during menstrual discomfort without penalty.
Beyond technical safeguards, DiDi fosters warm connections. Qiu Xiaoying met Chen Peixin at a "Her Deepest Wish" offline event this year, learning about the rescue team and sparking her interest in joining. Nationwide, hundreds of exclusive team-building events have helped tens of thousands of female drivers connect, forming a supportive community.
On DiDi's platform, one female driver after another uses her hands to support her family and warm the city. According to the "2026 DiDi Global Digital Mobility Women's Ecosystem Report," nearly 80% of DiDi's female drivers are their families' primary breadwinners. In top-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, the income gap between active male and female ride-hailing drivers has nearly closed. As Su Na, a female driver from Tianjin, put it: "No matter how large another's roof is, it's better to have your own umbrella." By holding the steering wheel, these women are raising that umbrella for themselves and their families.
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