The government decided Thursday to continue in June and later its discussions on whether to fully lift a ban on ride-hailing services in Japan.
Although Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wanted to present the direction of his administration’s policy in June, members of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) remain divided over whether information technology firms should be allowed to enter the ride-hailing business.
The decision has also been postponed as some officials from the transport ministry and Komeito, the coalition partner of the LDP, are strongly opposed to the full lifting.
In April, ride-hailing services, by which ordinary drivers use their vehicles to provide paid rides, were introduced for a limited time in some areas in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aichi and Kyoto prefectures, on condition that taxi companies manage the services.
On Thursday, Kishida held talks with regulatory reform minister Taro Kono, who is positive about lifting the ban, and transport minister Tetsuo Saito of Komeito, who is cautious about such a move.
They agreed to examine the situation after the April introduction of the services, while discussing a legal system for allowing businesses other than taxi companies to enter the sector without setting any specific deadline for the examination work and the discussions.