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Nissan and Yokohama City Launch Choimobi Yokohama, Japan’s First One-way Car Sharing Service with a Large Number of Ultra-compact EVs

30 units of NISSAN New Mobility CONCEPT electric vehicles deployed as car sharing scheme starts on the streets of Yokohama. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and the City of Yokohama today held the launch ceremony of “Choimobi Yokohama”, Japan’s first one-way car sharing service with a large number of vehicles. The scheme, which enables the company to … Continued

30 units of NISSAN New Mobility CONCEPT electric vehicles deployed as car sharing scheme starts on the streets of Yokohama.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and the City of Yokohama today held the launch ceremony of “Choimobi Yokohama”, Japan’s first one-way car sharing service with a large number of vehicles. The scheme, which enables the company to trial new concepts for mobility within urban areas, has been jointly organized with the City of Yokohama. Drivers will be able to rent units of NISSAN New Mobility CONCEPT, an ultra-compact electric vehicle. They will be able to drop off the car at a different location from where they started, enabling one-way travel.

After the kick-off ceremony held in “Bijjutsuno Hiroba” in front of the Yokohama Museum of Art, 30 units of the NISSAN New Mobility CONCEPT left for downtown Yokohama in front of 150 participants. Yokohama City Mayor Fumiko Hayashi, Suguru Uchida, Deputy Director-General of Kanto District Transport Bureau from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Kazuhiro Kurihara, Vice President and Executive Officer of Hitachi, Ltd. and Toshiaki Otani, Senior Vice President of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. attended the kick-off ceremony.

Enrollment in Choimobi Yokohama started on September 25 and those who have signed up will be able to use the service from October 11. It will operate for a year and the initial fleet of 30 vehicles will soon be expanded to 100.

The scheme is intended to explore how ultra-compact electric vehicles can be used to improve the lives of people in cities. The small size of the NISSAN New Mobility CONCEPT holds out the prospect of easing traffic congestion, and improving access to tourist areas and communities. The ultra-compact EV produces no emissions while it is being used, making it ideal for use on crowded city streets.

In addition to its leadership in Zero Emissions – the Nissan LEAF is the best-selling EV in history – Nissan is studying different models for the future of mobility, including solutions for the “last mile” of a journey taken mostly on public transport, such as one-way car-sharing schemes. Choimobi Yokohama will provide transport options for visitors and residents of the city including families with young children and the elderly.

Nissan Senior Vice President Toshiaki Otani said, “Nissan has been working on EV and zero emissions as a pillar of our corporate strategy. We are delighted that our efforts have realized Japan’s first ultra-compact car sharing program with a large number of vehicles, and we wish to thank Kanto District Transport Bureau from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the City of Yokohama, Hitachi, Ltd. and all the companies and groups for their supports. We want to create the future of mobility for the world right here in Yokohama where Nissan’s headquarters is based.”

Kanako Sahashi, a resident in Yokohama City, who is the first user of this car sharing program says, “As Choimobi is compact, it looks easy to drive. It’s also good that it’s a one-way service and I can choose where to get off as there are many stations. We have lots of interesting places and events in Yokohama but when it’s a bit far to get to a place on foot, Choimobi is very useful. With Choimobi, I can enjoy the city much more.”

Over the next year, Nissan will carefully monitor the beneficial impact of the scheme alongside other stakeholders including Hitachi Ltd., which helped to develop the car sharing operation system, Mitsui Fudosan Realty Co., Ltd., which provides the rental stations, and local public transportation service providers and local businesses.

Nissan will continue to work under the Ultra-Compact Mobility Certification System of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, as it seeks opportunities to harness the potential of ultra-compact EVs toward improvements for urban transportation in Japan.

For further information about Choimobi Yokohama, please visit:
http://www.choi-mobi.com/

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