newmo Opens Osaka's First Autonomous Driving Hub 'JOTO Base'

newmo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Naoki Aoyagi; hereinafter 'newmo'), which operates approximately 1,000 taxis in Osaka, has opened 'newmo Autonomy JOTO Base (Joto Base)' as its first autonomous driving hub in Osaka. Following a soft opening in May, the facility officially opened today, June 15.

Role of JOTO Base as a Hub for Implementing Autonomous Driving

JOTO Base will serve as a central hub for data collection and demonstration in Osaka City and Sakai City, supporting newmo’s goal of launching commercial autonomous taxi services by 2028. The facility will house both data collection vehicles and autonomous driving vehicles, functioning as a dual-purpose site for gathering driving data and conducting demonstration runs.

The facility has been specially designed as a dedicated base distinct from regular taxi depots, enabling vehicle adjustments and maintenance on-site. Additionally, it will operate in close coordination with 'Yumeshima Kotsu Minamimori Branch,' a taxi depot located just a 3-minute walk away, to ensure efficient data collection and model development operations.

Overview of JOTO Base

Name: newmo Autonomy JOTO Base

Address: 2-10-17 Nagata, Joto-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture 536-0022

Facility Layout:

1st Floor Garage: Space capable of accommodating approximately 15 vehicles. Currently equipped with three data collection vehicles, with plans to gradually increase the fleet. New autonomous driving vehicles are scheduled to be deployed this autumn.

2nd Floor Office and Rest Area: Equipped with rest spaces for data collection drivers and workspaces for staff.

Initial Initiative: Data Collection by Ride-Share Drivers

As its first initiative at JOTO Base, newmo is conducting data collection drives using dedicated vehicles operated by ride-share drivers to gather 'real-world driving data' essential for training autonomous driving models. This marks the first such initiative in Japan utilizing ride-share drivers for autonomous driving data collection.

With cooperation from ride-share drivers who began driving around the time of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, data collection has been underway since May under a shift-based system. Driving for data collection is primarily focused on the Maishima area of Osaka City and the Sakai-Hama area of Sakai City.

Over 80 applicants responded to the call for data collection drivers, immediately filling the required positions. The team is expected to expand to several dozen members in line with future fleet increases.

Notably, newmo previously received over 10,000 applications for ride-share drivers during recruitment for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, with hundreds working during the event period.

Opening Event Held on June 15

To mark the opening of JOTO Base, newmo hosted a press event (opening ceremony) today, June 15 (Monday), inviting media representatives.

The event featured presentations by Yuuto Enya, Head of Autonomous Development at newmo, greetings from ride-share drivers involved in data collection, and a send-off ceremony for vehicles departing from the new base.

Guests of honor included Mr. Daisuke Ishihara, Director-General of the Logistics and Automotive Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Mr. Eiji Sakamoto, Chairman of the Osaka Taxi Association.

From left: Kagehide Sogawa (CTO, newmo), Eiji Sakamoto (Chairman, Osaka Taxi Association), Daisuke Ishihara (Director-General, MLIT), Naoki Aoyagi (CEO, newmo)

About newmo

newmo is a mobility startup with the mission of 'Colorful Mobility for Communities,' operating taxi services, human resources services, and autonomous taxi development. Since its founding in January 2024, the company has integrated five taxi operators into its group, supporting local mobility with a fleet of approximately 1,400 vehicles and over 2,400 employees across Osaka, Kanagawa, Tokyo, and Okinawa.

Recruitment Information

newmo’s Autonomous Development Division, 'newmo Autonomy,' is expanding recruitment for autonomous driving teams dedicated to supporting regional transportation in Japan through the realization of autonomous taxis. For details on available positions, please visit the newmo Autonomy website.

https://newmo.ai/

Additionally, the Autonomous Development Division will host a casual networking event, 'Beer Bash,' on Wednesday, June 24, where attendees can interact with team members. Please see the details below.

https://newmo-tech.connpass.com/event/395480/