MEXICO CITY, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing on Tuesday launched operations in Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, as part of its expansion plans.

"The next step will be Mexico City," said Pablo Mondragon, the company's head of operations for the nation's capital and nearby Toluca, the capital of central Mexico State.

Toluca is where Didi first tested the waters in Mexico starting in April. By August, Didi had expanded to the northern industrial capital of Monterrey.

"We want to continue to learn a lot about the market in Mexico, the company's first international foray outside Asia," Mondragon told Xinhua.

Guadalajara, the capital of western Jalisco state, has a thriving productive sector driven by technological innovation, creative industries, specialized manufacturing and agro-industry, among other fields.

Guadalajara and the larger metropolitan area are home to residents who spend up to 40 percent of their income on transport, according to the company.

Andres Valencia, head of the company's operations in Guadalajara, said Didi's "vision of maintaining a close, empathetic and transparent relationship with its driver partners is paying off."

"We are very pleased by the responses from drivers in Guadalajara," Valencia said in a company release about its latest move.

The ride-hailing service has partnered with some 10,000 local drivers, who are eligible for certain perks, such as a 500-peso (27-U.S.-dollar) coupon for gasoline.

In addition, the company offers a range of safety features to help drivers identify high-risk areas and alert operators in case of an emergency.