On Monday (September 15), Brazilian President Lula met with DiDi Global Inc. executives at the Palácio do Planalto presidential office in Brasília, including founder and CEO Cheng Wei, co-founder Jean Liu, and international business head Zhu Jingshi.

During the meeting, Cheng Wei committed to investing 2 billion Brazilian reais (approximately 2.68 billion RMB) in the food delivery business of DiDi's Brazilian subsidiary 99 within the first year of operation. 99's food delivery service launched in June this year.

Beyond the food delivery investment, DiDi also pledged to work with partners to provide 6 billion reais in financing and leasing for electric motorcycle drivers, expected to benefit 60,000 delivery drivers.

The food delivery investment is clearly related to the intense competition between DiDi and Meituan in Brazil, although Meituan's food delivery service Keeta has not yet officially launched in Brazil (expected in October or November). The two companies have previously filed lawsuits against each other.

In May this year, during Lula's visit to China, Meituan founder Wang Xing signed an agreement committing Meituan to invest $1 billion in Brazil. Also present, Mixue's CEO committed to purchasing 4 billion RMB worth of coffee and other agricultural raw materials from Brazil.

Meituan is intensively preparing for Keeta's operations in Brazil, while Mixue's first store in Brazil is under renovation.

For President Lula, whether it's Meituan's $1 billion, DiDi's 2 billion reais, or Mixue's 4 billion RMB - all represent strong political achievements ahead of next October's elections.

The meeting included (from left to right): Presidential Chief of Staff Rui Costa, Jean Liu, Lula, Cheng Wei, DiDi International Business President Zhu Jingshi, and DiDi Brazil General Manager Wang Simeng.

Notably absent was Mao Chenyu, while Qiu Guangyu, who previously led DiDi's Latin American business, is now CEO of Meituan's Keeta.

According to the official statement from the Brazilian presidency:

On September 15 (Monday), representatives from 99 announced during their meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that they would double their investment in the food delivery business 99Food, reaching 2 billion Brazilian reais in the first year of operation (through June 2026). With this new investment, the company aims to cover 15 cities by the end of 2025 and 20 cities by January 2026. Currently, the company operates in Goiânia and São Paulo.

The meeting attendees included DiDi founder and CEO Cheng Wei, DiDi co-founder and Chief People Officer Jean Liu, DiDi International Business Group President Zhu Jingshi, and 99 Brazil General Manager Wang Simeng. DiDi owns the 99 ride-hailing app in Brazil and dominates the Chinese market. During the talks, executives reaffirmed their long-term commitment to developing Brazil's food service industry. They expect this investment will expand opportunities created by 99 throughout the delivery ecosystem.

Wang Simeng emphasized: "We understand that investing these 2 billion reais requires providing our delivery partners with places to rest, drink water, and use restrooms, making their lives more dignified. We will invest 50 million reais to establish support points throughout Brazil."

Company founder and CEO Cheng Wei stated: "This additional investment consolidates Brazil's central position in DiDi's global strategy." He added: "Few markets combine scale, innovation, and opportunity like Brazil. We believe 99Food can become a platform capable of completely transforming the delivery experience. By doubling our investment, we're not only investing in growth but also committed to building a fairer, more inclusive ecosystem for millions of Brazilians."

Electric Vehicles: 99 and DiDi executives also announced a 6 billion reais plan aimed at bringing benefits and earning opportunities to delivery drivers in Brazil. The plan includes credit, leasing, and electric vehicle programs to facilitate delivery drivers' use of electric motorcycles and e-bikes.

The investment portfolio includes:

Electric motorcycle credit and leasing - 99 partners with Galgo, Riba, and Vammo to launch an electric motorcycle financing and leasing program with special conditions. The program has launched in São Paulo and Belém (COP30 host city), expected to benefit up to 600,000 delivery drivers over the next three to five years, providing 6 billion reais in credit.

Electric bicycles - 99 will partner with Bebike, Bliv, and Riba to provide electric bicycles to partner delivery drivers. The pilot project will launch in São Paulo in September with 500 units, expected to cover 10,000 delivery drivers within 18 months.

Customized sustainable transportation and delivery vehicles - 99 announced a strategic partnership with Yadea, the world's largest electric motorcycle manufacturer, to jointly design an electric vehicle specifically for Brazil's transportation and delivery needs, providing local driver partners exclusive access to cutting-edge global technology. Besides reducing CO2 emissions, electric vehicles can reduce fuel and maintenance costs by up to 60%, thereby increasing delivery drivers' net income.

Healthcare: During the meeting, 99 formally established a partnership with the Ministry of Health, donating 1 million Brazilian reais in transportation vouchers to SUS patients in the "Agora Tem Especialistas" project. During the pilot project alone, 43,000 ride vouchers will be distributed across 32 cities in 22 states and the Federal District to help reduce missed appointments, examinations, and surgeries due to transportation difficulties.