DiDi and SoftBank to Launch Taxi-Hailing Platform

DiDi Chuxing, the leading mobile transportation platform, and SoftBank today announced DiDi Mobility Japan Corp., their new joint venture to offer taxi-hailing services in Japan. DiDi Japan will begin pilot operations free of service charge to taxi companies in autumn from Osaka, expanding to Kyoto, Fukuoka, Okinawa, Tokyo and other major cities gradually.

“Through this joint venture, I am delighted to deliver DiDi’s most advanced transportation platform service with AI technology to the Japanese market. Combining DiDi’s outstanding innovation with SoftBank’s extensive business base including advanced network infrastructure, I believe the joint venture can provide new value to both consumers and taxi companies in Japan.” – President & CEO of SoftBank, Ken Miyauchi.

“DiDi Mobility Japan’s new platform aims to help taxi companies to improve their efficiency and utilization, enhance user satisfaction and build more broad-based demand for taxi services in Japan.” – CEO of DiDi Japan and Vice President of Didi Chuxing, Stephen Zhu.

Due to regulations in Japan, ride-sharing companies with non-professional drivers aren’t allowed to operate as all rides must be provided by licensed taxi companies. In May, Uber announced its plan to launch its first taxi-hailing pilot service in Japan that will connect passengers to taxi providers.

Bottom Line: SoftBank isn’t putting all their eggs in one basket.