On February 15-17, the City of Yokohama and WHILL, Inc., a Yokohama-based startup known for its high-tech, sleek looking personal mobility devices, partnered to host the Yokohama Future Mobility Showcase, a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) pilot carried out as part of the city’s Minato Mirai 2050 Project. The experiment took place in the center of the Minato Mirai 21 District immediately surrounding the station, and residents and visitors were able to explore the area on a WHILL model C personal EV. WHILL’s personal mobility devices are electrically powered, compact in size and have intuitive controls, providing “last-mile” transportation solutions for everyone, especially those with reduced mobility. WHILL has also focused on developing innovative MaaS solutions, developing software and systems that allow for easy adaptation in device rental and sharing programs in public spaces such as airports, malls and theme parks.

The city planned this mobility experiment as part of their continued efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by partnering with various stakeholders in the city. In June 2018, Yokohama was designated by the national government as one of the twenty-nine “SDGs Future Cities” in the country, and furthermore was selected as one of the ten model municipalities with the most progressive visions. City officials are hoping to apply lessons learned from this pilot project to develop new solutions to the city’s transportation issues and create a city that is accessible and livable for all, including senior citizens and those with mobility challenges. Yokohama will continue to be a strong advocate and leader in sustainable development.

WHILL’s Maas Business: http://whill.us/maas-business/

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Yokohama’s Major Industries: Mobility