(Yicai Global) July 18 -- Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing said it plans to bring back its Hitch service, suspended for almost a year after women passengers were murdered, but this time with special safety measures in place for women.

The unit has updated the carpooling service through 12 versions and optimized 226 functions, Hitch executive Zhang Rui said at a press conference today. It has rolled out hundreds of security features and strategies, he said without disclosing when the service will restart.

Two woman were killed by their drivers when using the Hitch service last year. The company was censured by the public and the authorities, leading to the service being halted.

The new safety provisions will provide women with their chauffeur's driving experience, age and credit record, a face scan in case of long-distance trips, and remind them to turn on trip sharing features which will record the journey. It will also warn passengers about course deviation and abnormally long trips, and ask them if they feel safe.

The company will trial the service during daylight hours and will not charge an information service fee in the trial period, said Zhang.