Toyota, Softbank to test ride-sharing service

Feb 27, 2019 | News On Japan

Feb 27, 2019 (NHK) - Two leading Japanese firms plan to launch an on-demand ride-sharing service. Toyota and Softbank see a promising market in the growing number of people who think of cars as something to use, but not to own.

The joint venture is called Monet Technologies. A trial run of the new service starts on Tuesday.

80 people who work in Tokyo are taking part in the month-long test. They'll use a smartphone app to reserve rides for their daily commute.

Groups of up to four people will share a van. It comes with Wi-Fi and individual desks.

Feedback from the trial run will be used in developing an AI-program that dispatches vehicles efficiently. Researchers also want to find out what specific features commuters want.

Monet Technologies plans to launch the service using self-driving vehicles as soon as 2023.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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