Honda to start self-driving taxi service in Tokyo

Driving innovation: Mibe (left) shaking hands with Vogt during the event. The driverless taxi service will be launched in 2026 to help tackle labour shortages in an ageing society. — AFP

TOKYO: Honda Motor Co will start a self-driving taxi service in Tokyo in early 2026, in a move that may help alleviate a shortage of cab drivers in one of the world’s most-populous cities.

The Japanese automaker has been developing the driverless vehicle with General Motors (GM) Co and its subsidiary Cruise LLC, which is already testing its autonomous taxis in four US cities.