Didi-SoftBank taxi-hailing JV expands to 13 cities across Japan
TOKYO (Reuters) - Didi Mobility Japan, a joint venture (JV) by China's Didi Chuxing and SoftBank Corp <9434.T>, said on Wednesday that it would expand its taxi-hailing service to 13 cities across Japan.
Despite SoftBank's oversized presence in the global ride-hailing industry, such services are effectively banned in Japan, leaving SoftBank portfolio companies like Didi and Uber <UBER.N> limited to offering services that match taxis with customers.
The app launched in September in Osaka, a popular destination for Chinese tourists, where it tied up with taxi firms to enter an increasingly crowded market for such apps that includes rivals backed by Sony Corp <6758.T> and Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T>.
Didi is among a growing number of SoftBank Group Corp-backed <9984.T> companies launching joint ventures with SoftBank's domestic telco. Other startups doing so are shared co-working firm WeWork Cos and Indian hotel startup OYO.
(Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
