newmo announced JP¥20.8 billion in Series B funding. KDDI led the round. The mobility startup operates roughly 1,900 taxis and develops self-driving taxi AI in Japan.
Funding and investors
The round brings newmo's cumulative funding to JP¥40.7 billion. New investors include Mitsubishi Estate's BRICKS FUND TOKYO, DG Daiwa Ventures, and Rice Capital. KDDI and KDDI Smart Mobility also signed capital and business partnership agreements.
Company scale
newmo was founded in January 2024. It has nine group taxi operators across six regions. Its workforce exceeds 2,800 people and the company says its vehicle count places it among Japan's top 10 taxi groups.
Autonomous taxi development
newmo is building its own AI model for autonomous taxis. It began data collection and driving tests in Sakai and Osaka in 2026. The model was selected for the national GENIAC program.
The company plans to add Fukuoka and other new taxi markets. It aims to reach 10,000 manned taxis over time. It targets limited-area commercial autonomous taxi service in 2028 with safety drivers on board.