Japan’s First Environmentally Friendly Mobility as a Service (MaaS) for Tourists Selected for Support from Ministry of the Environment

TOKYO, Japan - July 8, 2021 - A consortium of six companies, comprising Tobu Railway Co., Ltd., JTB Corp., Tochigi Prefecture, JTB Communication Design, Inc., ORIX Auto Corporation, and Toyota Tochigi Rental & Leasing Co., Ltd., have been in discussions to launch Japan’s first environmentally friendly MaaS for tourists—tentatively named “Nikko MaaS”—in the Nikko region of Tochigi Prefecture in fiscal 2021. Now, the Ministry of the Environment has selected Nikko MaaS as a “Supported Project: Automotive CASE Regional Decarbonization Transport Model.”

The government scheme is aimed at establishing pioneering models for net-zero emissions, with the goal of realizing carbon neutrality and a decarbonized society by 2050. It supports cutting-edge private initiatives capable of leading Japan into a new era by enabling new automotive CASE regional decarbonization transport models, through the incorporation of fresh business models, technologies, and innovations.

Nikko MaaS is a one-stop system for members of the public to use their smartphones to easily search for, reserve, and pay for discounted digital railroad and bus tickets, battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) car-sharing schemes, bicycle-sharing schemes, BEV buses and other environmentally friendly modes of transport, as well as tickets to historical and cultural facilities, nature activities and other tourist-targeted events.

In addition to launching a BEV and PHEV car-sharing scheme, the consortium will increase the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations within the Nikko region with the aim of establishing an environment that enables members of the public use EVs to see the sights with peace of mind that they are not impacting the environment negatively.

Nikko MaaS is intended both to promote a shift to a decarbonized society and to contribute to regional revitalization by encouraging tourism. Following its selection under the supported project scheme, the consortium will seek to raise awareness of the Nikko region as an environmentally friendly tourist destination; at the same time, it will work to ensure Nikko MaaS becomes a model for decarbonization initiatives at other tourist destinations.

The official name of Nikko MaaS, details of its services, and their launch dates will be announced in due course. Please see the attached sheet for details regarding Nikko MaaS’s selection as a supported project.

About “Supported Projects: Automotive CASE Regional Decarbonization Transport Models”

1. Name of selected project
Environmentally friendly MaaS for tourists (provisional name: “Nikko MaaS”) launch project

3. Project overview
Home to a wealth of environmental resources such as Nikko National Park, the Nikko region is a major tourist destination and welcomes 11 million visitors per year. However, according to Tochigi Prefecture, approximately 70% of these visitors access the region using private cars.
Using the Nikko region as a model, Tochigi Prefecture is seeking to become an environmentally friendly tourist destination, by improving the convenience of secondary modes of transport and encouraging the introduction of EVs, and thereby reducing its environmental footprint. Accordingly, in spring 2021 it began using BEV buses for the low-pollution buses it operates in the Okunikko area.
In light of these prefectural initiatives, the consortium seeks to raise awareness of the Nikko region as an environmentally friendly tourist destination, and intends for Nikko MaaS to become a model for decarbonization initiatives at other tourist destinations. To this end, in addition to offering discounted railroad and bus digital ticket sets, the consortium will work to establish a one-stop service via which members of the public can use their smartphones to easily search for, reserve, and pay for BEV and PHEV car-sharing schemes, electric bicycle-sharing schemes, BEV buses and other environmentally friendly modes of transport, tickets to historical and cultural facilities, and nature activities and other tourist events.

Contact Information:
Investor Relations and Sustainability Department
ORIX Corporation
Tel: +81-3-3435-3121

About ORIX:
ORIX Corporation (TSE: 8591; NYSE: IX) is a financial services group which provides innovative products and services to its customers by constantly pursuing new businesses.
Established in 1964, from its start in the leasing business, ORIX has advanced into neighboring fields and at present has expanded into lending, investment, life insurance, banking, asset management, automobile related, real estate and environment and energy related businesses. Since entering Hong Kong in 1971, ORIX has spread its businesses globally by establishing locations in 31 countries and regions across the world.
Going forward, ORIX intends to utilize its strengths and expertise, which generate new value, to establish an independent ORIX business model that continues to evolve perpetually. In this way, ORIX will engage in business activities that instill vitality in its companies and workforce, and thereby contribute to society. For more details, please visit our website: https://www.orix.co.jp/grp/en/
(As of March 31, 2021)

Caution Concerning Forward Looking Statements:
These documents May contain forward-looking statements about expected future events and financial results that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results that differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those described under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and under “(4) Risk Factors” of the “1. Summary of Consolidated Financial Results” of the “Consolidated Financial Results April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2021.”