Japan's Sony to form alliance to build taxi-hailing system -Nikkei (updated)
20/02/2018 03:15
* Japan market currently hobbled by stringent rules
* Didi, SoftBank to provide ride-hailing service this year
* Uber CEO in Tokyo, expected to meet with regulators
* Toyota has said it will take stake in major taxi firm
(Recasts and writes through)
By Minami Funakoshi
TOKYO, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Sony Corp 6758.T looks set to
become the latest blue-chip firm to jockey for position in
Japan's taxi and ride-hailing market, with plans for a joint
venture to develop an artificial intelligence-based hailing
system, the Nikkei newspaper reported.
Japan is seen as a potentially lucrative ride-hailing
market, with regulators under pressure to ease stringent rules.
Currently, non-professional drivers are barred from offering
taxi services on safety grounds, and ride-hailing companies are
limited to services that "match" users to existing taxi fleets
via mobile platforms.
Sony plans to build the AI-based hailing platform with Daiwa
Motor Transportation 9082.T and four other domestic taxi
firms, the Nikkei said.
Sony and Daiwa Motor declined to comment.
This month, SoftBank Group Corp 9984.T and China's Didi
Chuxing said they would roll out a venture in Japan this year to
provide matching services. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N1PZ1DF
Toyota Motor Corp 7203.T has said it will take a stake in
taxi-hailing service JapanTaxi, set up by Japan's largest taxi
firm, Nihon Kotsu.
Uber's UBER.UL new chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, is
currently in Tokyo and is expected to meet with regulators.
(Reporting by Minami Funakoshi in Tokyo; Additional reporting
by Susan Mathew in Bengaluru; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
((susan.mathew@thomsonreuters.com; +91-80-6749-1130; Reuters
Messaging: susan.mathew.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: JAPAN TAXIS/SONY