[Career Change x Trend News] Summary of Companies’ Efforts for the Future of MaaS in Japan

Here you will find trending news topics in the automotive and mobility markets around the world.

We carefully select interesting news in the automotive industry, both domestic and international, and translate and summarize the contents for your reference. We hope you will find it useful in catching up with the latest news in the industry.

Woven City to finally begin occupancy! Phased in from Toyota officials.

June 3, 2024 by Automated Driving LAB

Construction of Woven City, currently underway by Toyota Motor Corporation in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is progressing smoothly.The first phase of the building is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2024, and progress is posted on the official website and Facebook.

Woven City will be built on the former site of the Higashi-Fuji Plant and will cover an area of about 15 times the size of the Tokyo Dome. Construction will begin in February 2021 and will also be used as a mobility test course.

Specifically, automated bus services and mobile vending services using the e-Palette automated driving system are planned. Demonstration tests are also planned in the areas of smart logistics and next-generation remote communication, with ENEOS, Nissin Foods, Rinnai, and others participating as partners.

In Phase 1, building work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, and the demonstration project will begin in 2025. The concept of Woven City is “human-centered city,” “demonstration city,” and “unfinished city,” and it aims for constant improvement.

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Panasonic subsidiary to enter electric bicycle sharing “in 26 years”.

May 27, 2024 By Nikkei

Panasonic Cycle-Tech (Kashiwara City, Osaka Prefecture) plans to launch an electric bicycle sharing service for use by residents in condominiums by 2026.According to President Toshiaki Inage, demand for electric bicycles, which surged after the Corona disaster, has since declined, but he believes there is significant room for growth in the market.

Aiming to promote the use of electric bicycles in Japan, the company is developing a shared cycle business exclusively for condominiums in addition to test-ride events, with the aim of having residents experience the value of electric bicycles. The company plans to leverage the strengths of the Panasonic Group to market the product to condominium owners.

The company has also set a goal of more than doubling sales to 100 billion yen by 2030, compared to 2022, and aims to expand its market both domestically and internationally. In the European market in particular, the company has adopted a strategy of selling components such as drive units to manufacturers, rather than the bicycles themselves, and is strengthening its local structure. The company plans to expand its market share in Eastern Europe, where the penetration rate is lower than in Western Europe, and also plans to expand into Western Europe.

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Uber CEO calls for Japan to allow independent rideshare drivers (Original headline: Uber CEO calls for Japan to allow independent rideshare drivers)

June 3, 2024 by The Mainichi

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi called for rideshare drivers in Japan to be able to work independently of cab companies.This proposal is intended to address labor shortages.

At a press conference in Tokyo, Kosloshahi said that more people would be interested in becoming rideshare drivers if they could work flexibly as independent contractors. He also noted that progress has been slow despite the lifting of a partial ban on ridesharing services in Japan in April.
He said the reform is “an important step toward improving transportation in Japan and expanding income opportunities for drivers,” arguing that flexibility is needed to remove restrictions on hours and areas of operation.

He also stated that Uber will enter the Japanese market if the government fully lifts the ban on ride-sharing services and allows non-taxi companies to enter the market.

Under the current system, cab companies hire and manage standard license holders to provide ride-sharing services using private vehicles under specified conditions.
Kosloshahi stressed that safety is a top priority and one of the main reasons customers in other markets choose Uber.
He said the proposed improvements “will provide more convenient and affordable transportation options for the people of Japan, welcome foreign visitors, and help stimulate the economy.

These comments were made in response to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s directive to proceed with discussions regarding the full cancellation of ride-sharing services.

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