Tokyo's Itochu Corporation Partners With Ride-Sharing Startup Via

Tokyo-based trading company Itochu Corporation announced Monday it has entered a partnership with New York-headquartered ridesharing company Via Transportation Inc. Itochu also announced a strategic investment in Via’s Japanese subsidiary Via Mobility Japan GK. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Via first began operating its service in Tokyo in July.

Founded in 2012 by Israeli entrepreneurs Daniel Ramot and Oren Shoval, Via offers on-demand ride-sharing services in over 30 cities and about a dozen countries, offering different modes of operation in each location. On Monday, Via launched a pilot for a new shuttle service in Tel Aviv, in collaboration with Israeli public transportation company Dan Bus Company. A similar service is planned for later this year in Jerusalem.