"In 2018, Shao Wei, then 28, quit his financial sector job to return to his hometown in northeastern China, to get married, buy a home and settle down. But his business failed, he went into debt and his marriage ended in divorce. He returned to Beijing last year to drive a ride-hailing car. With no family to support, he's able to save half his earnings, and he's given himself 600 days to pay off his debt."
"Like many drivers, he has to work up to 15 hours a day just to get enough fares. He doesn't live in his car, which he rents and cleans daily to avoid odors. But he sympathizes with colleagues who are less fortunate. "I think the drivers whose cars smell bad are heroes who bravely face life," he says, "and I hope passengers will give them some understanding.""
Millions of Chinese were thrown out of work by the coronavirus pandemic and China’s slowing economy, pushing many into ride-hailing and the wider gig economy. Many ride-hailing drivers work up to 15 hours a day to secure enough fares and some end up living in their cars to save money. Drivers who live in cars can generate strong odors, prompting rider complaints and app features asking if a car smelled. DiDi Chuxing introduced a policy in response to rider complaints. Some drivers, like Shao Wei, left other careers after personal setbacks, returned to driving to pay debts while saving aggressively and cleaning their cars.
Read at www.npr.org
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