A seven-week trial of cab-sharing services in Tokyo will kick off next Monday, the first of its kind in Japan.

On Thursday, two taxi groups in Tokyo, Nihon Kotsu and Daiwa Motor Transportation, revealed details of their new apps that let customers find other riders to share a cab with. Customers will be able to book a cab through their mobile apps and if they want to share a ride, the app will match them up with other passengers heading in the same direction. The service will be available on 949 taxis in Tokyo.

The trial is among many initiatives aimed at revamping the Japanese taxi industry, which has traditionally been heavily regulated in terms of fares it can charge and the number of cars on the road. Unlike China and the U.S., the likes of Uber and Lyft are essentially banned in Japan. But the emergence of disruptive forces like Uber has brought the industry to a turning point, especially as it is struggling to get customers because of its relatively high fares.

"To be honest, we do feel worried that the popular opinion in Japan will push for the introduction of private car-hailing apps [like Uber]," said Ichiro Kawanabe, chairman of Nihon Kotsu and Japan Federation of Hire-Taxi Associations. Kawanabe said that private cab-hailing is not suitable for the Japanese market where taxis are known for their safety and quality.

"Our cab-sharing service can offer customers cheaper rides while increasing the productivity of drivers and ensuring the quality remains top-notch," he added.

While the trial is one step toward reforming the industry, there seems to be a few catches that could hinder the cab-sharing service from becoming widely accepted.

First, the apps are only offered in Japanese for now, which makes it difficult for foreigners and travelers -- many of whom are more familiar with cab-sharing services than the locals -- to take part in the trial. The companies said they wanted to capture the local market first before offering the service to foreigners.

Source: ANNnewsCH