Brazil’s ride-hailing service 99 starts to accept payment using PIX

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Ride-hailing app 99 will allow payment for rides via PIX starting this month. The payment method is integrated into the application and, in this first launching stage, is available in the cities of Maringá, Santos, Brasília, Limeira, Bauru, Piracicaba, Ponta Grossa, and Cuiabá. The new instant payment system from the Central Bank, called PIX, is cheered by Brazilians and already used by 6 out of 10 Brazilians.

The payment of rides via PIX on 99 is not made to the driver’s personal account. Instead, the transfer is made to the application, as happens with the payment of any purchase on e-commerce sites that accept this type of transfer. 99 warns that NO passenger should make payments to the car driver’s PIX key.

“The resource allows the user to make financial transactions on a user-friendly platform and, at the same time, offers the partner driver another fast way to receive money still within our platform, all without having to pay bank transfer fees,” says Maurício Orsolini Filho, director of payments at 99.

PIX is now also available for transfers of amounts in the 99 Pay digital wallet, which can be used for transfers between people. Despite the initial arrival of the feature in some Brazilian cities, nationwide payments via PIX on 99 still have no date set to arrive.

Competitor Uber has accepted payments with PIX since last year.

Part of China’s Didi Chuxing, the world’s largest ride-hailing company, 99 aims to build an ecosystem of services around mobility and digital payments to facilitate people’s transportation.

According to a recent study by Fipe, the company had contributed R$15 billion (US$2.7 billion) to the Brazilian economy in 2020. According to consulting firm Mordor Intelligence, the global market for ride-hailing apps will accumulate US$113 billion in 2020.