YOKOHAMA, Japan - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced the completion of its Namie Smart Mobility field test program, marking a major milestone for the on-demand mobility service that has been developed and tested in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, since fiscal year 2020. Beginning October 1, Namie Town will operate the program as a public transportation service.
This initiative was established under the February 2021 Hamadori Region Mobility Partnership Agreement, a joint community development project between Nissan, Namie Town, Futaba Town, and Minamisoma. Since then, Nissan has developed and tested the service as part of efforts to support regional recovery following the Great East Japan Earthquake and address local transportation challenges. From October, the service will be operated as a public transportation program led by Namie Town, building on the achievements, insight and operational expertise gained through the field test program.
Field test program in Namie Town
Working closely with local residents, Nissan has continuously improved both the service and its operating environment to create a mobility solution that is easy to use and accessible for the community.
Key initiatives included:
- Developing intuitive and user-friendly interfaces based on customer feedback
- Launching the ‘SumaMobi Kids’ program to support children's mobility needs
- Introducing mini digital bus stops to enhance local accessibility
- Developing a vehicle dispatch system utilizing QR codes
Through these initiatives, Nissan has improved the user experience for users while gaining valuable knowledge and operational expertise needed to provide locally tailored mobility services.
Evolution as a public transportation service from October 2026
Following agreement by the local public transportation council, the field test program will conclude at the end of September, and the program will evolve into a public transportation service led by the Namie Town municipality from October 1.
Drawing on the systems, operational knowledge and community engagement expertise developed through the field test program, Moplus Co., Ltd. will support service operations under a contract with Namie Town.
Mr. Masafumi Yamada, senior manager of the Planning and Finance Division of Namie Town, said: “Within Namie Town, there are two transportation services that are currently operational: the on-demand taxi service available exclusively to Namie residents, and Namie Smart Mobility, which is available to all users. Starting in October 2026, we will launch a new integrated version of Namie Smart Mobility that combines both these services to consolidate operational resources and improve efficiency, drawing on the knowledge and expertise accumulated by Nissan through its activities in the town. We will keep building reliable and eco-friendly public transit to support our rebuilding goals: creating a community where people want to live and relocate.”
Nissan aims to create new mobility services as part of transportation infrastructure supporting local communities and regional activities. In the future, the company plans to continue promoting cross-sector field test programs to address specific regional needs, drawing on the knowledge and experience gained through these initiatives to support the social implementation of locally tailored mobility services.
