Skip to main content

MaaS Global and Mitsui to trial Whim in Japan

MaaS Global is trialling its Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform Whim in Japan in a tie-up with property developer Mitsui Fudosan. The Finnish company says both parties will collaborate with local transport service providers and conduct a ‘proof of concept’ trial in the Greater Tokyo area, prior to a planned launch later this year. The partnership allows MaaS Global to employ what CEO Sampo Hietanen calls “our Real Estate x MaaS vision: the next evolution phase to combine living and mobility”. Mitsu
May 8, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
8571 MaaS Global is trialling its Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform 8727 Whim in Japan in a tie-up with property developer Mitsui Fudosan.


The Finnish company says both parties will collaborate with local transport service providers and conduct a ‘proof of concept’ trial in the Greater Tokyo area, prior to a planned launch later this year.

The partnership allows MaaS Global to employ what CEO Sampo Hietanen calls “our Real Estate x MaaS vision: the next evolution phase to combine living and mobility”.

Mitsui Fudosan wants to incorporate MaaS into its building projects, “enhancing comfortable living for those who live and work in its communities”.

In a statement, the Japanese firm says: “The company will endeavour to enhance collaborative relationships between its wide-ranging business areas for urban development, such as office, retail, residential, hotel and logistics, and MaaS Global’s expertise in the MaaS business.”

Last October, MaaS Global %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external deployed false http://www.itsinternational.com/sections/general/news/comfortdelgro-to-deploy-maas-global-app-in-singapore/ false false%> its Whim app in Singapore, allowing users to have access to Comfortdelgro’s fleet of taxis.

The company plans more launches in cities across Europe, the US and Asia in 2019.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • 2014 IBTTA global summit
    September 24, 2014
    The 2014 IBTTA Global Summit, Innovations & Technologies for Sustainable Mobility, Environment and Road Safety, takes place on 19-21 October 2014 at the Prague Marriott in the Czech Republic. This Summit offers an unparalleled opportunity to network with colleagues and share experiences across international borders. Sponsorship and exhibit opportunities are available. The full programme, travel and hotel details are available on the IBTTA website (link www.IBTTA.org). IBTTA negotiated hotel rates are
  • Panasonic to launch autonomous cart ride-share in 2021
    November 6, 2019
    Panasonic is to launch a ride-sharing service of autonomous electric carts in Japan in 2021 for small towns and other ‘confined’ areas. A report by The Mainichi says the company is now using four carts to transport more than 14,000 employees around its headquarters in Osaka Prefecture ahead of the commercial launch. The carts operate at 20 km/h per hour on a 2.4km loop around the premises, which is around 468,000 m2 in size. An spokesperson is quoted as saying during a press conference: "We are not tryin
  • C40 mayors make global ‘clean air’ pledge
    October 11, 2019
    In a move that will have significant implications for urban transit, 35 mayors at this week’s C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen have pledged to “implement substantive clean air policies by 2025”. Among other developments, this is likely to mean further increases in low- or zero-carbon public transport and zero-emissions zones, along with enhanced incentives and infrastructure to support walking and cycling, in cities worldwide. Signing the C40 Clean Air Cities Declaration, the mayors signalled their
  • MaaS Market London: rising tide won’t lift all transport providers
    January 30, 2019
    In his keynote address to the second day of ITS International’s MaaS Market Conference (London, 20-21 March), connected vehicle expert Frederic Bruneteau will consider ‘The harsh reality of urban mobility: Winners and losers in the MaaS value chain’. The founder and managing director of Ptolemus Consulting, Bruneteau will argue that while Mobility as a Service (MaaS) may replace 2.3 billion car journeys by 2023, not all service providers will benefit – evidence of which is becoming increasingly apparent.