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SoftBank, DiDi to Test Ride-Hailing Service in Japan
Japan’s SoftBank Corp. says it will begin testing its ride-hailing platform this autumn with Chinese partner DiDi Chuxing Technology Co.
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Japan’s SoftBank Corp. says it will begin testing its ride-hailing platform this autumn with Chinese partner DiDi Chuxing Technology Co.
Last month the companies launched a joint venture, DiDi Mobility Japan, to evaluate the system. Initial trials will begin in Osaka and spread to Kyoto, Fukuoka, Okinawa and Tokyo, according to the partners.
Their aim is to improve the efficiency of Japan’s existing taxi system, which is struggling with a shortage of drivers, The Japan Times reports. The newspaper notes that country does not allow private drivers to give rides for pay to strangers, although SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son calls the policy “foolish.”
For now, the partners will focus on applying DiDi’s artificial intelligence techniques to help taxi fleets manage their operations. The DiDi Mobility Japan app will enable customers to use their smartphones to order and pay for taxi rides.
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