China peddles into Japan with bike-sharing giant service

Mobike has announced it will launch its bike-sharing services in Fukuoka, Japan, later this year. The information was shared at a news conference in Fukuoka. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chinese bicycle-sharing startup Mobike Technology Co Ltd will expand its services into the overseas market and launch in Japan later this year.

Representatives of the bike-sharing giant announced the company established a Japanese subsidiary, named Mobike Japan Ltd, in Fukuoka city, after its efforts of raising more than $600 million in Mobike's latest round of financing from investors, including Tencent Holdings Ltd.

Soichiro Takashima, mayor of Fukuoka city, said the local government welcomed the bike-sharing service, and added its vibrancy will add to the city's long-established cultural heritage.

"With Mobike's bike-sharing platform, Fukuoka residents, as well as local and foreign tourists, will be able to enjoy greater mobility and convenience when traveling around the city," he said.

"We look forward to the benefits Mobike will bring with the reduction of automobiles."

Mobike was first launched in Shanghai in April 2016 and has since expanded across China, and moved other counties, including Singapore and the United Kingdom.

A company representative said within 14 months of operation, Mobike has moved into 100 cities so far, and currently has more than 100 million registered users and five million bikes in operation.

Chris Martin, head of international expansion of Mobike, said the Fukuoka city government, along with the Fukuoka Directive Council, gave Mobike an incredible platform to expand business into Japan.