Uber tests use of car-sharing vehicles in Tokyo

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Uber Japan has started a trial using ride-sharing vehicles to transport customers via its taxi services in Tokyo, with the aim of finding a sufficient number of taxi drivers.

The American branch of ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc., part of taxi company Royal Limousine and car-sharing company Times Mobility Co., launched a pilot project on Tuesday. The aim is to give regular drivers the opportunity to offer ride-hailing services, even if they don’t have their own car. This will make it easier for them to start their own business.

In the trial, which runs until November 30, drivers recruited by Royal Limousine will use two vehicles from Times Mobility to provide ride-hailing services in the 23 wards of central Tokyo and the cities of Musashino and Mitaka in western Tokyo. Uber will consider fully launching such services based on the findings of the trial.

In April, the Japanese government partially lifted a ban on ride-hailing services, allowing people to use their private vehicles to offer paid rides. But the services have not been as widespread as expected, partly due to time and geographic restrictions.

Kazuo Horie, a consultant at Royal Limousine, said at a demonstration event for the media on Tuesday: “We hope that taxi services will expand by enabling people to work [as drivers] without owning cars.”