Mazda Car Rental Corp. has been expanding its car sharing business throughout Japan since July 2006.

In Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, the first full scale car sharing system in a provincial city was launched in November 2006 with the cooperation of Hokuriku Railway Co, a public bus operator, Hokusei Industry Co., a local car sharing operator, the city government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Pre-registered users can earn points that can be used for bus fares.

The Orix Auto Corp., the largest company in the car sharing business, started a new service in the spring of 2007 that combines car sharing and car rental services. Focusing on the car sharing service for condominium dwellers, Orix has launched its service at five condominium apartment buildings and plans to offer it at seven more buildings by the end of this year.

At present, Orix member:vehicle ratios range from 15:1 to 20:1. It plans to increase these ratios to around 30:1, an average ratio for European and North American countries that have improved services and growing government support.