Tag - ride-hailing

 
 

RIDE HAILING

A ride-hailing service vehicle in Sendai. In times of disasters, such services will be available more widely.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 2024
Japan to allow use of ride-hailing services in disasters
Demand for transportation tends to increase during disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons, as well as in the recovery and reconstruction process.
Uber is working with Royal Limousine and Times Mobility to conduct a trial to allow ordinary drivers to offer ride-hailing services even if they do not own vehicles.
JAPAN
Sep 4, 2024
Uber Japan tests use of car-sharing vehicles for ride-hailing services
The aim of the trial, which will run through Nov. 30, is to make it easier for drivers to get into the business.
Officials of the transport ministry speak to a driver suspected of engaging in illegal taxi operations at a tourist spot in Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture.
JAPAN / Society / Regional voices: Chubu
Aug 12, 2024
Gifu struggles to crack down on illegal cabs at tourist hot spots
Cashless payments make it hard to catch such drivers in the act and some are worried they may be mistaken for a legal ride-hailing service.
Taxis wait for fares outside the airport in Wuhan, China. Ride-hailing and taxi drivers are among the first workers globally to face the threat of job loss from artificial intelligence, experts say.
ASIA PACIFIC / Society
Aug 9, 2024
China's drivers worry as robotaxis pick up pace — and passengers
Automating jobs could benefit China in the long run given a shrinking population, economists said.
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura is calling for ride-hailing services with no limitations on time zones, locations, dates or the number of vehicles during the Osaka Expo.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Aug 1, 2024
Uncertainty looms over ride-hailing plans for 2025 Osaka Expo
A flood of tourists from Japan and overseas is expected to visit the Osaka Expo, which will open in April next year and run for six months.
Toshimitsu Motegi
JAPAN
Jun 2, 2024
LDP's Motegi calls for fully opening up ride-hailing market
Starting in April, ride-hailing services are allowed in some parts of the country, but operators of such services are limited to taxi companies now.
Transport minister Tetsuo Saito speaks to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday after meeting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
JAPAN
May 31, 2024
Government defers decision on ride-hailing services
Some officials from the transport ministry and Komeito are strongly opposed to fully lifting the current ban.
As of last Sunday, ride-hailing services, which use personal vehicles to offer paid rides, had been used a total of 12,628 times in five areas.
BUSINESS
May 11, 2024
In first month of operations, ride-hailing services used more than taxis in Tokyo
The services, which were launched in April, have been used more frequently than traditional taxis so far, a transport ministry report has shown.
Digital minister Taro Kono rides in a car driven by a private driver using a personal vehicle in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward on Monday.
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 8, 2024
Tokyo starts ride-hailing service — but it may not be what you expect
The apps Go, Uber, S.Ride and Didi can all be used to hail private drivers alongside taxis during specific times of the day.
Uber Japan demonstrates its ride-hailing app in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Friday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 7, 2024
Uber to launch ride-hailing services in Japan
The move is designed to cope with a shortage of taxi drivers in urban areas and tourist spots in the country.
Ride-sharing apps on a smartphone. Since Monday, users have technically been able to hail private vehicles through such apps, but only in specific areas and at certain times.
BUSINESS / EXPLAINER
Apr 2, 2024
Japan has started private ride-hailing services. Here’s how they work.
Private drivers can only be called during times of high demand and in certain areas.
The local government in Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Uber Japan concluded a comprehensive tie-up agreement on Tuesday that allows the ride-sharing service to operate in the city.
BUSINESS
Mar 13, 2024
Ride-sharing starts in Ishikawa city before shinkansen extension
The service is now available at major tourist spots and residential areas between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and in the whole of the city from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m.
Uber Japan has started discussions with partner taxi companies aiming to introduce ride-sharing services.
BUSINESS
Jan 26, 2024
Uber Japan to launch limited ride-sharing services in April
Uber Japan's new services will only be available in areas and during times of the day deemed to face a shortage of taxis.
The prefectural and municipal governments of Osaka hold a meeting in the city on Dec. 14 to discuss offering a ride-hailing service at the 2025 Osaka Expo.
JAPAN
Dec 27, 2023
Local governments in Japan eye independent ride-hailing services
Some local governments are exploring the introduction of their own systems tailored to fit local circumstances, separate from the central government.
Ride-sharing apps (clockwise from bottom) Uber, Grab, Didi and Ola Cabs are seen on a smartphone display.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 20, 2023
Japan to partially lift ban on ride-hailing services from April
Drivers will be allowed to operate in specific areas at certain times under the guidance of taxi companies when there is a lack of rides available.
A poster for Uber displayed at a Tokyo subway station reads: "Meeting inbound demand together with Japan's taxis." It also notes that its service is used in 71 countries.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 26, 2023
Japan weighs allowing ride-hailing amid taxi industry opposition
The taxi industry is opposed to any change, arguing that allowing ride-hailing is just a temporary fix that will take jobs from taxi drivers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Jul 6, 2021
Didi shows all Chinese tech giants must first answer to Beijing
Over the past year, Xi Jinping's government has sought to gain control of the vast amounts of data held by large tech firms.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 5, 2021
China blocks SoftBank-backed Didi from app stores days after U.S. IPO
The surprise probe and rapid decision by China's powerful internet regulator piles on the scrutiny of Didi over issues ranging from antitrust to data security.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 15, 2021
From Harvard to Nasdaq listing: Grab CEO's ride to world's biggest SPAC deal
The CEO of Grab, a popular app to book taxis, order food and make payments in Southeast Asia, has always been determined to win — from making his firm the best-funded regional start-up to defeating behemoth Uber Technologies.

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Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?