A new car-sharing technology is being tested by Toyota and Servco Pacific Inc (Servco) in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Toyota and Servco launch car-sharing application testing

The software and services suite forms part of Toyota’s Mobility Services Platform (MSPF). Servco, the distributor of Toyota vehicles in Hawaii, plans to launch a new Honolulu-based car share business by the end of 2017 using the technology.

Toyota and Servco say the new car sharing technology will allow users to lock and unlock vehicles via their smartphone, using Smart Ket Box (SKB) software. Driver identification, authentication, payment and fleet management for car-sharing businesses will all be handled by the software.

The application was developed in-house and is managed by Toyota’s global technology strategy business unit, Toyota Connected North America (TC).

Zack Hicks, CEO of Toyota Connected North America, said: “This successful launch of the MSPF represents the next generation in car-sharing platforms and is Toyota’s global foundation for fleet management, car-sharing, and the future of mobility. Its powerful and flexible API based platform allows us to quickly adapt to new market opportunities and support deployment of locally-tailored mobility services.”

Toyota has been working with Getaround on the car-sharing pilot program in San Francisco, California, verifying convenience and usability of the SKB, since January 2017.

Eventually, Toyota says they plan to begin working with other dealers and distributors to tailor the core technology for their markets, aiming for safe and more convenient, customer-centric mobility services.