Lime, a provider of electric micromobility sharing services, announced on November 6 that it will form a business alliance with JAL. Lime will become JAL’s second partner in Japan, following Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance.
A briefing was held on the same day to explain Lime usage trends, future initiatives by the two companies, and the launch of the service in the second city in Japan. The speakers were Terry Sai, Lime country manager and general manager of the Asia Pacific region, and Takahiro Iiyama, general manager of the Business Development Department of JAL’s Innovation Division.
Lime” is a sharing service that allows users to reserve electric micromobility vehicles at ports (bicycle parking lots) located throughout the city, ride them via a dedicated app, and return them to a port near their destination. More than 200,000 vehicles are available in 280 cities worldwide.
In Japan, the service was launched on August 19, 2012, with 120 ports in the 10 wards of Tokyo. Two types of vehicles are available: electric kickboards and electric seatboards, with users of the seatboard, which is a seated type, accounting for 70% of all users.
In the case of Shibuya to Sangenjaya, the “30-minute 1-day Pass,” which offers a discount for a ride of 13 minutes or more and is priced at about the same level as the bus fare, is popular mainly among commuters.
As background to the collaboration, Mr. Sai said that in Japan, traffic congestion in urban areas and insufficient supply of means of transportation due to the increase in the number of tourists, as well as the last mile issues in rural areas where public transportation is inadequate, are becoming more apparent.
This led to the conclusion of a comprehensive partnership between JAL, the airline responsible for wide-area travel, and Lime, responsible for last-mile travel, to support inter-regional travel for local residents and travelers.
Mr. Iiyama of JAL then explained the mileage linkage with Lime. This is the first service offered by a domestic airline company that allows passengers to earn miles for using electric micromobility vehicles, with one mile awarded for every 100 yen (excluding tax) spent on Lime.
At the same time, the company will support the installation of ports in other parts of Japan by utilizing JAL’s network of branch offices, etc. On November 7, a second city, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, will newly launch Lime service. The number of vehicles offered will be 40 ports totaling 180 vehicles, with the same two vehicle types as in Tokyo.
In addition to offering a “helmet selfie” feature that provides a 10% discount off the regular fare if the driver is confirmed to be wearing a helmet, the program also introduces automobile insurance that covers liability insurance and accidents involving property and bodily injury. Users must confirm their age, attend safety training, and answer all 12 safety quiz questions correctly before they can use the service.
Furthermore, Lime’s first vehicle rental service business will be developed for municipalities, companies, and tourist attractions. Unlike regular services, the vehicle rental service will be offered to JAL affiliated hotels, for example, whereby guests will be able to rent a vehicle and return it at the same location (hotel). Lime will be responsible for vehicle maintenance as in the past, but the pricing is still under consideration.
Mr. Iiyama expressed his vision, “We would like to collaborate with and develop bases that meet local needs, not only in the vicinity of the airport, but also in shopping malls, convenience stores, parking lots, restaurants, and other locations throughout Japan.
JAL will also continue to offer “JAL Maas,” a one-stop service for medium-haul transportation that allows users to search for pre- and post-airport transportation around the airport and make reservations and arrangements for ground transportation.
© Source travel watch
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