Competition in China’s local services market intensified Tuesday as Alibaba and Meituan unveiled new initiatives targeting each other’s turf. Alibaba’s mapping unit, Amap — also known as Gaode — introduced “Amap Street Stars,” a merchant review system it pledged will never be commercialized. The ranking, based on user behavior and Ant Group’s Sesame Credit, covers food, hotels and attractions. Alibaba also announced a support plan with billions of RMB in coupons, subsidies and incentives to boost small merchants. Meanwhile, Meituan’s Dianping platform relaunched its “Premium Delivery” service, promising 30-minute delivery from top-rated restaurants featured in its “Must Eat” list and “Black Pearl” guide. The company said it is deploying AI to filter fake reviews and enhance recommendations, with consumer-facing AI agents set to launch within a week. Analysts say Alibaba’s Amap initiative directly challenges Meituan’s dominance in local services, though Meituan retains a strong short-term advantage thanks to years of experience and loyal food delivery users. However, Alibaba’s vast traffic from Taobao, Alipay and Amap — combined with strong cash reserves — could reshape the market over time. [Alibaba, in Chinese]
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