Provision of 100 vehicles after the expiration of their lease periods to medical and nursing care institutions free of charge

Sumitomo Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer: Masayuki Hyodo) and Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service Company, Limited (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and CEO: Akira Tsuyuguchi; hereinafter “SMAS”) will provide, free of charge, a total of 100 of SMAS’s vehicles, whose terms of lease have expired, to medical and nursing care institutions across Japan for a certain period. This is to help medical and nursing care professionals as part of the companies’ efforts to promote ESG through mobility (“the Initiative”).

The Initiative will be launched with the provision of vehicles to Soseikai Medical Group in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Ten vehicles will be provided to institutions in the Prefecture and more will subsequently be offered in other prefectures. The vehicles will be used mainly for individual transportation to and from the homes of users of medical and nursing care facilities for the purpose of preventing infections, as well as for home visits and nursing care and as a waiting/consultation area for people with fever, thereby contributing to the reduction of cluster risks in medical and nursing care facilities. Some of the vehicles will be provided as part of a project organized by the Fukuoka Directive Council called "Yell! Fukuoka” (Note) to support businesses, organizations and citizens in Fukuoka.

Sumitomo Corporation and SMAS have started exploring new business projects that use mobility in the Kyushu region. Through the Initiative, we aim to provide optimal mobility services for corporate customers (Mobility as a Service (MaaS) for Business) by offering mobility services that utilize various vehicles and meeting logistics and delivery needs, which are expected to increase in the future. We also strive to contribute to the revitalization of local economies.

Going forward, MaaS, in which various modes of transport will be seamlessly integrated into a single mobility service through ICT to allow for efficient travel, is expected to become prevalent. In addition, services that are currently offered only at physical stores are expected to be mobile in the new normal after the coronavirus pandemic. Utilizing the integrated corporate strength of the Sumitomo Corporation Group, Sumitomo Corporation will contribute to the betterment of people's lives by developing MaaS-related businesses and mobile services. Possessing over 1 million vehicles under its management, SMAS is one of the leading leasing companies in Japan and strives to realize more convenient and comfortable travel by utilizing various forms of mobility.

Note: Yell! FUKUOKA is a project to support people who are moving forward to a brighter future by creating new value for a truly rich world “after coronavirus.”
URL：https://yellfukuoka.com/

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■Sumitomo Corporation’s  Material Issues
Sumitomo Corporation Group positions “Six Material Issues to Achieve Sustainable Growth with Society” as an important factor in developing business strategies and in the decision-making process for individual businesses. Going forward, we will pursue sustainable growth by resolving these issues through our business activities. This project especially contributes to “the Development of Local Communities and Industries”, “Establishing a Foundation for Comfortable and Enriching Lifestyles” and “Providing Diverse “Accessibility””.