Ridesharing makes new and unique mess in Japan's taxi industry
(2024/07/31)
- Reference: 1722398471
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/07/31/ride_hailing_japan_accusation/
- Source link:
Taxi drivers are gaming ride-sharing algorithms in Japan to find more and more lucrative fares, according to digital transformation minister Taro Kono.
The minister's sentiments were expressed in comments read by a proxy at a July 29 working group meeting to discuss the industry. Kono had prepared the comments in advance for the Regulatory Reform Promotion Council, but was unable to attend.
"Even though the vehicle is empty, by displaying that it is picked up, drivers can more easily forgo traditional taxi requests in favor of taking ride-hailing app requests and achieving a higher matching rate, [1]explained [VIDEO] Kono's proxy.
[2]
Japan resisted the introduction of ridesharing services for years, but did allow cabs to be summoned using rideshare apps like Uber. Earlier this year, the nation opened to ridesharing services – but they are only accessible from traditional taxi companies' apps, and may only operate in certain areas during restricted hours.
[3]
One reason for allowing that limited service was to get more cars on the road, as Japan's taxi industry faces the same labor shortages as many others in the rapidly ageing nation.
Cab drivers manipulating rideshare platforms in search of higher income is therefore unwelcome, as it undermines the strategy to increase supply.
[4]Like Uber, but for rainy days: Japan eases its ridesharing restrictions
[5]Baidu's robotaxi division to wheel into profit next year
[6]India's Uber clone Ola Cabs hails ride out of the international market
[7]Grab shrank its superapp by a quarter in order to survive
Japan's rideshare experiment has already needed some tweaks. In July changes were made to allow more cars to operate [8]during heavy rain . ®
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[1] https://www.youtube.com/live/7IcMBQwLjPA?feature=shared&t=210
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offprem/saas&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZqoLSwyKk6Q5QOr4FRF6uAAAAEA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offprem/saas&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZqoLSwyKk6Q5QOr4FRF6uAAAAEA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/02/japan_lets_more_ridehailing_vehicles/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/17/apollo_go_profitable/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/11/ola_exits_international_markets/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/05/grab_downsizes_app/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/02/japan_lets_more_ridehailing_vehicles/
[9] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The minister's sentiments were expressed in comments read by a proxy at a July 29 working group meeting to discuss the industry. Kono had prepared the comments in advance for the Regulatory Reform Promotion Council, but was unable to attend.
"Even though the vehicle is empty, by displaying that it is picked up, drivers can more easily forgo traditional taxi requests in favor of taking ride-hailing app requests and achieving a higher matching rate, [1]explained [VIDEO] Kono's proxy.
[2]
Japan resisted the introduction of ridesharing services for years, but did allow cabs to be summoned using rideshare apps like Uber. Earlier this year, the nation opened to ridesharing services – but they are only accessible from traditional taxi companies' apps, and may only operate in certain areas during restricted hours.
[3]
One reason for allowing that limited service was to get more cars on the road, as Japan's taxi industry faces the same labor shortages as many others in the rapidly ageing nation.
Cab drivers manipulating rideshare platforms in search of higher income is therefore unwelcome, as it undermines the strategy to increase supply.
[4]Like Uber, but for rainy days: Japan eases its ridesharing restrictions
[5]Baidu's robotaxi division to wheel into profit next year
[6]India's Uber clone Ola Cabs hails ride out of the international market
[7]Grab shrank its superapp by a quarter in order to survive
Japan's rideshare experiment has already needed some tweaks. In July changes were made to allow more cars to operate [8]during heavy rain . ®
Get our [9]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.youtube.com/live/7IcMBQwLjPA?feature=shared&t=210
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offprem/saas&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZqoLSwyKk6Q5QOr4FRF6uAAAAEA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offprem/saas&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZqoLSwyKk6Q5QOr4FRF6uAAAAEA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/02/japan_lets_more_ridehailing_vehicles/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/17/apollo_go_profitable/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/11/ola_exits_international_markets/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/05/grab_downsizes_app/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/02/japan_lets_more_ridehailing_vehicles/
[9] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Dubious data
munnoch
They already thought of that. The illuminated display in the windscreen shows a different indication for a pre-booked taxi than it does for an available one. You wouldn't want to offend a potential customer by appearing to ignore their hail... Unless that customer is a foreigner...
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/japanese-taxi-signs--432064158009036443/
david 12
Years ago, you hailed a taxi in Tokyo in the rain using two, three or even four fingers -- indicating a willingness to pay 2,3, or even 4 times the displayed fare.
Dubious data
How is it known the empty cabs with the light on are not on their way to pick up a fare they have have already promised to pick up? Of course that's knowable with enough deep and expensive digging (because Uber would know) - but I doubt such confirmation efforts were actually performed. Unless the drivers know they are going to pick up a long fare, it would be better for them to pick up a paying passenger as soon as possible.