Uber Is Making Moves in Japan
Even though Uber is blocked from setting up its own ride-sharing operations in Japan, that isn't stopping the global startup from expanding in the country with a taxi-hailing pilot service that connects riders with other available taxi services.
Uber plans to set up the program in the next few months on the Japanese island of Awaji and run the service through March 2019. The app's test run will allow passengers to hail taxis from more than 20 local car services through Uber.
A spokesperson for Uber Japan told Reuters the company would like to eventually expand this program throughout the entire country.
It's not Uber's first foray into Japan. The startup is forbidden to operate its traditional ride-sharing service in the country because Japan has laws barring non-professional drivers from shuttling paying customers. But Uber operates a similar service that connects passengers with local car services in Tokyo, and its food delivery service, UberEats, is up and running in four cities across Japan. It also has a couple of test programs in the nation's rural regions that focus on ride-sharing for the elderly — a rapidly growing population in Japan.
Uber has good reason to pull out all the stops to compete in the Land of the Rising Sun — Japan's taxi industry is reportedly worth a total of $16 billion. The nation could prove to be an important outpost for the company in that region of the world, as it sold off its operations in Southeast Asia to ride-sharing rival Grab earlier this year.
H/T: Reuters
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.