Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
💻

Meituan

technology Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Meituan is a major Chinese technology company that operates a massive platform for local services. It connects consumers with businesses through various digital tools and logistics networks. The platform provides services like on-demand food delivery, in-store services, hotel and travel bookings, and instant retail. It also uses consumer reviews through its Dazhong Dianping brand to help users make decisions. Because it bridges the gap between digital orders and physical delivery, Meituan is a central part of the modern economy in China and beyond.

Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003
Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003

The company operates through a complex logistics and supply chain infrastructure network. This network allows for a guaranteed delivery system across 2,800 counties and cities in China. To make this work, Meituan relies on a massive workforce of delivery drivers. In 2021, there were 5.27 million delivery drivers earning money on the platform, with over 1 million of them being active every single day. This infrastructure supports different types of delivery speeds depending on the city tier. Some services provide instant delivery, while others focus on next-day delivery for different types of goods.

Meituan offers several distinct service types to meet different consumer needs. The food delivery service, established in 2013, is a primary source of revenue and drives users to other parts of the platform. For retail, the Meituan Instashopping Service allows small businesses to offer products like flowers or medicine through instant or next-day delivery. There is also Xiaoxiang Supermarket, which is an online supermarket for fresh produce and pharmaceuticals. For items that are not needed immediately, such as appliances or clothing, the Meituan Select platform provides next-day delivery using a bulk purchasing model. This model groups orders together to create cost savings for customers.

Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003
Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003

The history of Meituan is defined by rapid growth and strategic mergers. It was founded in 2010 by Wang Xing, who previously founded Xiaonei and Fanfou. In the mid-2000s, there were roughly 2,000 different voucher-selling companies in the industry. Through intense competition and consolidation, Meituan became a dominant player. By 2014, it held a 60% market share of deal-of-the-day group-buying websites in China. A major turning point occurred on October 8, 2015, when Meituan merged with the group-buying site Dianping. In September 2018, the company launched its initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at HK$69 per share.

Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003
Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003

Meituan’s scale is reflected in its significant market statistics and financial milestones. By the end of 2024, the platform reached over 770 million annual transacting users. It also supports more than 14.5 million annual active merchants. In the food delivery sector, Meituan is the clear leader with over 65% of the market share in China. This is significantly higher than its main competitor, Ele.me, which holds less than 30%. The company has also managed large amounts of capital, such as raising $9.98 billion in 2021 through the sale of equities and convertible bonds.

Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003
Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003

Technology is a major part of Meituan's current operations, specifically in the fields of artificial intelligence and autonomous transport. In 2023, the company acquired the AI startup Light Year for $281 million. This led to the development of the LongCat family of large language models, including multimodal and video generation models. Meituan also uses an AI agent called Xiaomei to assist customers with bookings. For physical delivery, the company uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, which can fly up to five kilometers even in bad weather. They also utilize self-driving vehicles in dense cities like Beijing and Shanghai through partnerships with companies like Li Auto Inc.

Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003
Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003

Finally, Meituan is expanding its reach through an international brand called Keeta. This global expansion began in May 2023 with a pilot in Hong Kong. Since then, the company has moved into the Middle East, launching in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September 2024. They have also expanded into Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in 2025. Most recently, in October 2025, Meituan entered the Latin American market by launching food delivery services in Brazil. This movement shows how a local Chinese service provider is transforming into a global technology entity.

695 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (1)
File:Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003.jpg
Meituan autonomous delivery vehicle IMG003.jpg
More to explore

✨ What else?

Related topics you might enjoy

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.