Japan "will allow tests of self-driving taxis on public roads with passengers from next year as the country readies itself to showcase the technology by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics," according to Jie Ma of BLOOMBERG. The government "will work with the Japanese social media and gaming company DeNA Co. to test self-driving cabs in the city of Fujisawa, near Tokyo." Japan’s aim "to use the summer Olympics to display cutting-edge technologies is attracting local technology companies to join the race with carmakers, Uber Technologies Inc. and Google Inc. to develop autonomous vehicles" (BLOOMBERG, 10/1).
UBER BAN: The AP reported Rio de Janeiro, set to host the 2016 Olympic Games, "has become the first in Brazil to ban the use of smartphone-based ride-hailing-applications like Uber." Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes on Tuesday "signed legislation recently passed by Rio's city council banning Uber and similar technologies from operating in the city." Paes said after signing the bill, "Uber is forbidden. We are open to discuss the matter, but it is forbidden" (AP, 10/1).
