A Japanese company will roll-out autonomous taxi cabs in 2016.
Beginning in 2016, when you hail a cab in one part of Japan, you may not need to tip the driver.
The Japanese company Robot Taxi Inc. said it has reached a deal with the Kanagawa prefecture just south of Tokyo on a pilot program for its new driverless taxis, according to a Wall Street Journal story.
The cab rides will go about 2 miles, and be offered to just fifty people to start, primarily for trips from their homes to local grocery stores and shops. While the taxis will be driverless, a company staff member will be aboard every trip, in case the need arises for human control.
Robot Taxi Inc is a joint venture of DeNA Company, a mobile internet firm and ZMP Inc, which brings its knowledge of vehicle development. The company hopes to commercialize their autonomous taxi more widely by 2020, ultimately offering the service in areas where public transportation is currently lacking. The company also hopes to offer services for tourists to Japan.
The son of former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who serves as a vice minister in the current government, helped promote the pilot project at a recent event.
Robot Taxi joins Google as among the first companies to launch driverless taxis. Google is currently testing its service in Texas.
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