Niigata City: OURCAR Launches Car-Sharing Pilot in Collaboration with 'Niigata 2km' to Enhance Mobility for Students and Residents

TRILL. Inc. (Headquarters: Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture; CEO: Kengo Fujimori) is participating in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's regional transportation DX promotion project, 'COMmmmONS (Commons)', specifically in the 'Standardization Survey on Car-Sharing Models Utilizing Private Vehicles for Advancing Regional Transportation DX'. We are now launching a demonstration of the car-sharing service 'OURCAR (Awaka)' in Niigata City. Following successful pilot programs in Nagano Prefecture using a corporate vehicle co-use scheme (Note 1), Niigata City has been selected as the next expansion site. In alignment with Niigata City’s 'Niigata 2km' initiative, we aim to establish new mobility infrastructure connecting the Niigata University area to the city center. Simultaneously, we have begun accepting registrations from individuals and organizations residing in Niigata City as vehicle owners and users. Prior to the official launch, a demonstration event was held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Pia Mano in Chuo Ward, Niigata City. During the event, local university students demonstrated the full process—from reserving a vehicle via the app, unlocking it using a smart key box, driving, and returning the vehicle at Pia Mano.

Note 1: Co-use refers to a system where corporations share their owned vehicles with local residents or other organizations. Unlike paid rentals (rental cars), users participate in the contract as co-users of the vehicle.

Service Details

- Interview with students - Departure by car - Summary of Q&A session

[Background]

This demonstration is part of the 'COMmmmONS (Commons)' project, led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, aiming to achieve sustainable, convenient, and productive regional transportation through digital transformation. TRILL. Inc. has been selected as a participating company. In Nagano Prefecture, we have operated a car-sharing program utilizing around 100 corporate vehicles under a co-use system.

Niigata City’s 'Niigata 2km' initiative aims to enhance urban circulation and complement public transportation along the central axis connecting Niigata Station, Bandai, and Furumachi (Note 2). OURCAR aims to become a key player in this effort by expanding its co-use car-sharing model developed in Nagano to Niigata.

The foundation for this expansion is the cross-prefectural collaboration framework established under 'Regional Nexus Hub', a startup hub designated by the Cabinet Office. Through this framework, we are extending mobility services across prefectural borders, starting with the area around Niigata University.

While service operations will begin around Niigata University, vehicle owner and user registrations are open to all residents and businesses across Niigata City. Participation is open to anyone residing in or operating a business within the city, regardless of individual or corporate status.

Note 2: Niigata City, 'Expansion of 'Niigata 2km Share Cycle' Installation Port Areas' https://www.city.niigata.lg.jp/shisei/kocho/tegami_top/tegami/tegami_r6top/r6_6koutu/kocho2024082112.html

[Comments from Stakeholders]

Officials from Niigata Prefecture, Department of Startup and Innovation Promotion (Regional Nexus Hub), and Transportation Policy Division (Regional Transportation)

"Niigata and Nagano Prefectures are supporting the social implementation of new services by startups through a wide-area collaboration framework. P2P car-sharing services like OURCAR, which utilize idle vehicles and leverage digital technology to offer low-cost services, are attracting attention as a new mobility option amid ongoing population decline and driver shortages. In particular, the shared use of vehicles owned by companies and local governments is meaningful in terms of fully utilizing regional transportation resources. The expansion of OURCAR from Nagano to Niigata represents a concrete achievement of our joint startup support efforts. We will continue to deepen collaboration between the two prefectures to address challenges in regional urban mobility and support the social implementation of innovative services."

Hiroto Miyazaki, Policy Supervisor, Urban Policy Department, Niigata City

"In Niigata City, we are working to improve urban circulation along the central axis connecting Niigata Station, Bandai, and Furumachi under the 'Niigata 2km' initiative. OURCAR, with its concept of utilizing idle private and corporate vehicles within the community, holds great potential as a complementary mobility solution. We look forward to expanded mobility options for citizens, starting with the rollout around Niigata University."

Representative from Next-Generation BASE

"Having a car in Niigata makes life much more convenient and encourages people to explore the region. Honestly, students have limited mobility options. OURCAR allows us to use a car only when needed, just with a smartphone. Experiencing it today, I was impressed by how convenient it is. Combined with the 'walkable and enjoyable city' vision of 'Niigata 2km', it can cover mobility beyond walking distance. From a student perspective, we want to actively use it and contribute to the pilot program."

[About the Regional Transportation DX Promotion Project COMmmmONS]

COMmmmONS is a regional transportation DX promotion project led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, aiming to achieve sustainability, convenience, and productivity in regional transportation.

https://www.mlit.go.jp/commmmons/

[About the 'Niigata 2km' Initiative]

'Niigata 2km' is an urban development initiative promoted by Niigata City. Along the approximately 2-kilometer central axis connecting Niigata Station, Bandai, and Furumachi, the goal is to enhance walkability and cycling access, creating a vibrant, people-centered urban area (Note 3). OURCAR aims to support this initiative’s goals of improving circulation and complementing public transportation by providing P2P car-sharing accessible via smartphone from the Niigata University area to the city center.

Note 3: Niigata City, 'Niigata City Urban Development 'Niigata 2km'' https://www.city.niigata.lg.jp/shisei/seisaku/jigyoproject/niigata2km/niigata2km.html

[About Regional Nexus Hub]

'Regional Nexus Hub' is a wide-area startup ecosystem connecting municipalities, universities, and companies in Niigata and Nagano Prefectures. In June 2025, it was selected by the Cabinet Office as a 'Phase 2 Startup Ecosystem Hub City', focusing on providing real-world testing fields leveraging regional resources (Note 4).

OURCAR leverages this cross-prefectural collaboration framework as the foundation for its expansion from Nagano to Niigata City. This initiative, delivering mobility solutions across prefectural borders, is a prime example of such collaboration.

Note 4: Niigata Prefecture, 'Selected as Cabinet Office 'Phase 2 Startup Ecosystem Hub City'' https://www.pref.niigata.lg.jp/sec/sogyosuishin/startup-ecosystem-sentei.html

[About OURCAR (Awaka)]

Service Page: https://ad.ourcar.app/webmediaAd

'OURCAR (Awaka)' is a P2P car-sharing service that enables 24/7, unmanned lending and borrowing of idle private and corporate vehicles using just one smartphone.