Ride-hailing market leader Didi Chuxing is planning to enter more Latin American markets, including Chile, Peru, and Colombia, according to corporate sources and recent recruitment postings, Reuters reported.

The company is currently hiring staff for driver operations, crisis management, business development, and marketing in Chile and Peru, the report said. Some senior executives have been transferred from China to South American for preparation.

Felipe Contreras, Didi’s new Chile public affairs manager — a former Uber corporate communications chief in the country — told Reuters that Didi was also hoping to hire a local business executive to strengthen connections with governments and better manage public policy affairs.

Exact launch dates in the new markets were not available.

Didi is already in direct competition with Uber in Mexico. Brazilian ride-hailing company 99, which Didi partially owns, competes with Uber in Brazil.

A Didi spokesperson told Caixin that the company had no comment on the new market developments.

Some industry watchers believe Latin American markets, where Didi has few strong and reliable ties with local governments, would be even harder for the company to penetrate. In China, though criticized for safety issues and market monopoly, Didi maintains crucial relationships with business communities and administration units. Didi President Liu Qing is the daughter of business guru Liu Chuanzhi, founder of Lenovo, which has extensive networks in the country.

Related: Ride-Hailing Giant Didi Chuxing Drives Into Mexico