Latest Hinomaru Kotsu news, funding rounds and robotics & AI coverage. 1 article tracked by The Robotics Media.
Hinomaru Kotsu Co., Ltd. is the core company of the Hinomaru Automobile Group, a 76-year-old Tokyo taxi and hired-car operator that runs roughly a thousand vehicles across four business offices with about 2,000 employees. The company traces its roots to Hinomaru Jidosha Co., founded in 1950, and today provides sightseeing, airport, wagon, and care taxi services in Japan's capital.
In August 2026 Hinomaru Kotsu signed an operational partnership with Uber Japan to serve as the licensed fleet operator for a robotaxi pilot in Tokyo scheduled to launch later this year, overseeing depot operations, maintenance, charging and safety operators for the AV service. The company has previously partnered with Uber, DiDi and NearMe on hailing services and ran Japan-style rideshare (NRS) operations from 2024.