Toyota has entered into a partnership with Japanese taxi associations, with the goal of launching a new generation of taxis for that market by 2017. Toyota’s collaboration with the taxi industry in Japan dates back as far as 1936, when the Toyota Model AA was first used as a taxi.
The new partnership will allow for the development of a next-generation taxi, one whose design will honor the Japanese traditions of hospitality, and will be even more practical and user-friendly, as much for tourists and families as for children and the elderly.
The taxis will also collect data to be used in further advancing autonomous driving technologies, notably regarding road circulation and the driving environment. Other expected benefits include the improvement of safety systems and the introduction of offers of service in multiple languages.