Sumitomo Corporation signs a Cooperation Agreement with Lithuanian MaaS Platform Provider Trafi

Sumitomo Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer: Masayuki Hyodo) via Sumitomo Corporation Europe Limited (Head Office: London, UK; President and Chief Executive Officer: Takashi Yamana; hereinafter, the two companies will be collectively termed “Sumitomo Corporation Group”) has entered into a cooperation agreement with Trafi Ltd. (Head Office: Vilnius, Lithuania; Representative: Martynas Gudonavicius; hereinafter, “Trafi”). Trafi’s technology brings together public and shared mobility services into one powerful Mobility as a Service offering (hereinafter, “MaaS”). Enabling users to plan door-to-door trips, rely on real-time public transport information and shared mobility vehicle availability, and pay for the services with one unified payment solution.

A new concept for travel, MaaS has been gaining attention in recent years. MaaS seamlessly groups together all means of transport (except private vehicles) and treats them as a service. Customers using MaaS can expect greater convenience and efficiency, since each journey’s route and tickets are planned, booked and paid for via the most effective method depending on the customer, using a single app or platform. The value created by MaaS systems are becoming more important than ever as a way of resolving social and environmental issues such as traffic congestion and poor air quality due to increasing urbanization.

Trafi works with cities and local governments, as well as, public transport or other operators providing a MaaS platform (software) to enhance urban mobility consumption, helping users access every type of public and shared mobility and discover new ways to travel. Trafi’s platform is already being utilized by the Berlin transit authority to operate its “Jelbi” MaaS app in Germany. This app has become increasingly popular among Berlin’s residents as a comprehensive travel service that seamlessly integrates more than seven means of transport, including trains, buses and other public transport as well as electric scooters, shared bikes, and car sharing.

Through this cooperation with Trafi, the Sumitomo Corporation Group intends to help expand the MaaS concept to other locations by developing bespoke platforms suited to the circumstances of particular countries and regions. Sumitomo Corporation Group’s ambition is to be at the forefront in the optimization of the mobility of people and goods in urban areas throughout Europe and beyond. This collaboration supports the Group’s aim of encouraging society to adopt sustainable next-generation transportation services that are capable of co-existing in harmony with the global environment.

 

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■Company profile

Name	:	Trafi Ltd.
Head office location	:	Vilnius, Lithuania
Year established	:	November 2013
Employees	:	81
Description of business	:	Provision of MaaS platforms that enable users to search out routes combining multiple transport means, make reservations and pay for tickets as well as collect relevant information, and data updates on the operating status of public transport.

 

■ “Jelbi”, MaaS App operated by the Berlin transit authority

 

■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 “Achieving Harmony with the Global Environment”, “Contributing to the Development of Local Communities and Industries”, “Establishing a Foundation for Comfortable and Enriching Lifestyles” and “Providing Diverse “Accessibility””.

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