Aug 06 2016

The company said Friday it plans to put a “Japanese taxi of the future” on the road next year in partnership with the Japan Federation of Hire-Taxi Associations, an organization with which it went through a recent rough patch.

In a rare public admonishment, federation chief Masataka Tomita in June accused Toyota of “sending help to our enemies” by making a small investment in Uber Technologies Inc. in May. Japanese taxi drivers, like taxi drivers across the world, view Uber as a threat to their livelihoods.

Taxis are big business for Toyota in Japan, where most taxi drivers use the company’s vehicles. Local laws in Japan block Uber from offering its ride-sharing service using cars and drivers without taxi licenses.

Mr. Tomita made his critical remarks in a speech in which he told of meeting with Toyota President Akio Toyoda shortly after the Uber investment was announced. Mr. Tomita said Mr. Toyoda apologized for not notifying the association of the deal in advance and assured him that the deal doesn't include Japan.