UberEats launching in Tokyo

Launched in March this year, the delivery service is currently available in 28 cities across the world, reports Tech in Asia

Uber is officially launching UberEats in Japan. Advertisements looking for bicycle or motorcycle delivery positions appeared on Facebook for Uber last week, signalling the launch of UberEats or delivery service UberRush.

Last Wednesday, suspicions were confirmed as Uber posted a video on its Japan Facebook page announcing that UberEats would start “very soon”. The website for the service is already up. However, right now it only features a link for restaurants to register and the registration form only appears to allow eateries from Tokyo.

UberEats launched in March this year and is currently available in 28 cities across the world.

Regulations prevent drivers from accepting money when transporting passengers in a private vehicle and therefore Uber in Japan is more like a taxi operator. Its trial program in Fukuoka last year was shut down for paying drivers and protests from taxi companies have prevented similar trials in other regions. There was also a lot of backlash from the taxi industry when Toyota invested in Uber earlier this year.

However, non-professional drivers can operate and accept payments in areas where public transportation is not available. Uber took advantage of this by launching a service with a non-profit organisation in Kyotango city on the west coast.

The city has a population of around 60,000 people but Uber is only allowed to operate in the smaller area of Tango, with a population of 5,560 and where 40 per cent of the people there are over 65, according to Reuters. Uber has also made 50 tablets available for the elderly to book one of its 18 cars in the area.
This is an excerpt from Tech in Asia. You can read the full article here