Which company launched the online marketplace Taobao in China in 2003?

Alibaba Group launched the online marketplace Taobao in China in 2003.

Taobao was created as a consumer-to-consumer marketplace, allowing individuals and small businesses to list products for sale. Alibaba launched it partly in response to the growing presence of eBay in China and developed features suited to local online shopping habits.

Unlike a traditional retailer, Taobao generally operates as a platform connecting buyers and sellers. Its business model has included advertising, merchant services and other digital tools rather than relying mainly on owning inventory.

Taobao is often confused with Tmall, another Alibaba marketplace. Taobao primarily serves consumer-to-consumer and smaller merchant activity, while Tmall focuses more on branded retailers and business-to-consumer sales. Both became important parts of Alibaba’s wider retail ecosystem.