Car sharing, a membership system for the joint use of cars, is growing. The system is proving popular because you can use a car anytime you need one, and try out cars with automatic braking and other uniquely Japanese options that meet a broad spectrum of customer needs.

Use One Only when You Need One

Recently, it’s said young people in Japan are losing interest in cars. Young people are increasingly starting to think that parking for a car is too expensive and difficult to find in cities, and that the cost of fuel, insurance, and maintenance is also a problem. In addition, many people work or go to school on weekdays, so they only need a car on the weekend. Car sharing is a perfect setup for people who don't want to buy a car but would like to use one occasionally.

If you want to use a car, you could rent one, but car sharing can be more convenient than renting a car. Car sharing is a membership system in which you select a location near your home or in front of a train station and use a car in increments of 10 to 15 minutes. Your membership card or smartphone works as the car key, so there's no need to go to a shop for the key, and you can easily drive the car you like whenever you want 24 hours a day. The users of this service are increasing rapidly.

Car owners are also cleverly making car sharing part of their life too. For example, someone going out with eight people—which would need a van to seat everyone—can now opt for car sharing.

Uniquely Japanese Ideas Make Car Sharing Easier to Use

Car sharing avidly pursues convenience. Many pickup sites are near stations or public facilities, and people who don't often drive or lack confidence can feel easy about driving as there are cars with rear view monitors and automatic braking to make driving simpler. When car sharing first started, there were worries that people would not want to share a car, but the unique Japanese sense of consideration for others solved that problem.

One car sharing company offers a discount if you fill up the gas tank and wash the car so that the next driver can use it comfortably. You'd keep it clean if you know that someone would use the car soon after you, wouldn't you?

Another car sharing company, in a bid to reduce items left behind in a car, has an announcement that says: "Have you got everything?" After you use the car and get out of it, the door locks and you have to go to the trouble of calling the service center if you've left something in the car. The announcement works because people take a second look. This is how car sharing companies are coming up with ideas to make car sharing even more convenient.

Car Sharing is Easier on the Environment too

Car sharing that's helping to solve the environmental problem of exhaust gas air pollution has also started. Ultra-small electric cars are parked in dedicated parking lots near stations, and transferring from a train to them is simple. Because you can use a cellphone to register to use a car on the spot, it supports sudden needs like having a lot of packages and just wanting to use a car for short distances. In addition, as the car runs on electricity, there's no engine noise and it doesn't cause pollution.

If this system becomes popular, it will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Car sharing with excellent ultra-small electric cars that help the Earth's environment with their small space and energy-saving performance, are now being tested in Tokyo as well as in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. It would be good if the system spreads throughout Japan.