Kakao Mobility signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan’s Cross Taxi (X-Taxi) on April 21, expanding its international footprint as the Japanese taxi industry seeks technological solutions to combat declining service amid an aging workforce.
X-Taxi, a non-profit organization established in 2020 to innovate Japan’s taxi industry, sent representatives to Kakao Mobility’s headquarters in Pangyo last week to explore potential collaborations. The delegation examined Kakao’s unmanned dispatch kiosks, company management software, and autonomous driving technology demonstrated across six Korean regions.
The partnership focuses on digital transformation of taxi operations, smart dispatching, and improving foreigner-friendly ride experiences. For Kakao Mobility, the deal represents another step in its global expansion strategy, which has seen its services grow sevenfold in overseas markets during 2023.
“We’re targeting global expansion based on our mobility data and AI technologies,” said Ryu Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility.
The company, which dominates South Korea’s ride-hailing market with a 79% share as of 2022, has been aggressively pursuing international partnerships despite facing domestic regulatory challenges, including a recent 15.1 billion won ($10.5 million) antitrust fine for allegedly limiting competitors’ access to its platform.
