Innovative car-share program features range of well-appointed
Toyota and Lexus vehicles at 25 easily accessible stations
throughout Honolulu
Easy-to-use mobile app developed by Toyota Connected
helps Hui deliver convenient mobility
solutions
HONOLULU, July 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A jaunt to the
beach, a quick errand or the drive to work. These activities just
became more manageable for residents of Honolulu and visitors alike with today's
launch of a creative new mobility solution called Hui – a
round-trip, station-based car share service. Operated by Servco
Pacific (Servco), Toyota's distributor in Hawaii, the Hui service utilizes Toyota's
proprietary global Mobility Service Platform (MSPF) and a consumer
facing app developed by Toyota Connected North America (TCNA), the
global technology strategy business unit for Toyota.
Seventy Toyota and Lexus vehicles are available for reservation
through the Hui mobile app (for iOS and Android devices) by the
hour or day at 25 easily accessible locations throughout
Honolulu. The vehicles initially
in the program include the Toyota Prius, Prius Prime, Camry XSE, as
well as Lexus RX 350 and RX F Sport vehicles. Hui vehicles are
parked in marked, reserved stalls for easy pick-up and
drop-off.
The app supports a range of fleet management tools, as well as
driver identification, authentication and payment management. In
addition, Hui vehicles are equipped with Toyota's Smart Key Box,
which generates a digital key that allows users to lock and unlock,
as well as start vehicles via their smartphone.
"We're really excited about Hui because it's a game changing way
to offer car sharing," said Zack
Hicks, chief executive officer and president of TCNA, and
chief digital officer of Toyota Motor North America. "The program
is simple to use and more convenient than a traditional car rental
service – plus typical add-ons like gas and insurance are included
in the reservation cost. And thanks to Servco's strong
relationships with consumers and extensive knowledge of this
market, Hui will be the most accessible car share service in
Honolulu by far."
TCNA and Servco developed the service together as one of the
first public applications of MSPF, the core ecosystem for
leveraging the potential of connected vehicle systems to support
the development of new mobility businesses – such as car-sharing,
ride-sharing and remote delivery. The platform gives fleet
operators the capability to launch their own car share programs,
capitalizing on the strength of their local expertise, while
supporting leading-edge mobility use cases as they arise.
"Hui is the most innovative car share service to hit the
Hawaii market and marks a
significant milestone for both Servco and Toyota," said
Mark Fukunaga, chief executive
officer of Servco. "Hui provides a new option for Honolulu residents and visitors looking for
vehicle access while complementing other existing mobility services
such as bike share, ride share and public transportation, and we
are excited for consumers to utilize the technology."
For more information on pricing, station locations and terms of
service, please visit www.drivehui.com.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the
cultural fabric in the U.S. and North
America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing
sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus
brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous
value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design,
engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks
in North America, where we operate
14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more
than 47,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800
North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more
than 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017
– and about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15
years are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive
know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to
assist more people move more places. For more information about
Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
About Toyota Connected North America, Inc.
Based in
Plano, Texas, Toyota Connected
North America (TCNA) was established in 2016 to drive Toyota's
global efforts for an intelligent mobile society. With big data
collected from vehicles and analyzed on a cloud platform, TCNA
humanizes the driving experience by freeing customers from the
tyranny of technology via seamless and contextual services,
elevating the customer experience while benefitting dealers,
distributors, and partners. Analyzing traffic patterns, driver
behavior and connecting drivers with infrastructure and other
information is only part of TCNA's work that will open new services
and products to keep the car as a beloved companion.
About Hui
Developed by Toyota Connected North America
and Servco, Hui is a round-trip, station-based service that is
available to users 24/7. It is a global pilot program for Toyota's
shared mobility service platform. Hui vehicles can be reserved by
the hour or day as the program is designed to replace or supplement
vehicle ownership. To utilize Hui, a user must have a valid
driver's license and meet a driving record standard. Once available
to the public, qualified users will be able to download the app
onto their mobile phone, register as a member, then search for the
nearest vehicle and reserve a date and time. Gas, insurance,
parking at the station, 24-hour roadside assistance, and a 24-hour
call center are all included in the hourly rate of the vehicle.
Media Contacts:
Craig Keller
Toyota Connected
214-970-3399
craig.Keller@toyotaconnected.com
Casey Nishimura
Servco Pacific Inc.
Direct: 808-564-2372 | Mobile: 808-277-8803
casey.nishimura@servco.com
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SOURCE Toyota Connected North America