Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    OF the 28 applicants, two drivers passed the app-based cabby qualification tests Thursday at the Shenzhen Transportation Training Center in Meilin, Futian District.

    Zeng Haomin, a driver born after 1990, became the first qualified app-based driver, after passing the exams in 34 minutes and obtaining the certificate from the city’s transportation commission.

    Zeng registered as a Didi driver through the company’s service platform and applied to take the exams in December after the city unveiled rules regarding qualifications for app-based drivers and vehicles.

    The exams started at 9:50 a.m. and within 34 minutes, Zeng had completed the two examinations and passed qualification threshold of 80 points in both the national unified exam and the local exam. One minute after the examination results were revealed, Zeng got the certificate of an app-based driver in the city.

    “Although I have registered as a Didi driver, I have never been involved in providing a cab service. I will start the cab service after I get the license,” Zeng said during an interview Thursday.

    Zeng felt the local test was difficult as it covered different subjects such as Cantonese, Chinese, English, geography and history. It also included questions such as “What are the local specialties in Guangming?” He said he felt some questions, such as choices of driving routes and descriptions of the locations of landmark buildings, were difficult.

    Li Jian, the second driver to pass the exams at 10:45 a.m., has already provided 800 rides as a cab driver.

    “I want to be employed by the Didi platform, and I like the job because the service hours are flexible,” Li said.

    Among the examination takers, five passed the national unified test and 16 passed the local test.

    To encourage more drivers to pass the examinations, Shenzhen’s transport commission has uploaded a test data bank to http://pta.sztb.gov.cn, the official website of Shenzhen app-based cab monitoring service platform.

    The national exam will be organized in accordance with requirements issued by the national and provincial transport authorities, the commission said without giving more details.

    The tests were organized after the city unveiled new rules regulating private car use in app-based cab services, which demand that app-based taxi drivers possess Shenzhen hukou or residency cards, have three years of driving experience, and pass qualification tests before they are allowed to provide service.