Go Inc., which runs a taxi-booking app, reports that riders continue to hail cabs despite price increases. President Hiroshi Nakajima says users have taken the higher fares in stride and have not cut back. The company, backed by The Goldman Sachs Group Inc., went public in June with what ranked as Japan's largest initial offering this year.
Tokyo taxi fares rose 10% in April after a bigger 14% jump in 2022, and Japan's taxi prices sit among the highest globally. Even so, Nakajima says the core customer base values convenience more than saving a few yen. "Taxi users aren't sensitive to the price moves, as they are choosing to ride taxis over cheaper transportation like subways and buses," said Nakajima.
Management wants to lift average revenue per ride by adding more luxury car options and courting corporate accounts. Nakajima says both have already helped lift sales. As he put it, "We're seeing a rise in commission fee rate as we increase the number of premium taxis." Investors are on board so far: shares have climbed 63% since the debut, topping the start-up TSE Growth Market 250 Index's 12% rise.
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If people keep paying up for taxis, that points to stubborn demand for convenience even with inflation in the mix. For urban travelers, that can mean more premium choices sticking around. For anyone tracking new listings, it shows how pricing power and premium add-ons can push revenue higher when the core customer is not especially price-sensitive.
