Graphics: Didi-Kuaidi's Dominance

(Beijing) – Using a mobile application to arrange a ride has become very popular with China's urbanites over the past two years, changing the way people get around town.

Recent research shows that the most popular options – by a long shot – are those offered by the company behind the Didi-Kuaidi apps. The firm offering those apps, whose exact name is as yet unclear, is followed by the U.S. company Uber and China Auto Rental Holdings Inc. (CAR).

The research shows that people using car-hire apps tend to be younger – most are 35 years old and under – and fairly well paid, although more than half of Didi-Kuaidi's customers make less than 4,000 yuan per month.

Here's a closer look at the apps and who their customers are.