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Seibii's Groundbreaking Partnership

In a strategic move, Seibii Inc., headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo and led by CEO Maki Chimura, has entered into a capital and business partnership with Orix Corporation, Tokyo Century Corporation, and Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. This collaboration aims to enhance the foundation of Seibii's business while accelerating the development of a shared "maintenance platform" that caters to a wide range of companies utilizing vehicles, not limited to any specific enterprise.

Strengthening the Automotive Maintenance Network

The automotive business landscape, including leasing, rental, car-sharing, second-hand vehicle sales, and logistics, is expanding rapidly. However, the automotive maintenance industry is grappling with serious structural challenges such as a shortage of technicians, a decline in maintenance facilities, inconsistent quality of services, and sluggish digital transformation (DX). Since its inception, Seibii has developed its operations through on-site vehicle maintenance services while continuously improving its operational know-how and product offerings based on real-world experience.

Seibii’s vision is to use the strengths gained from mobile maintenance services to connect automotive technicians, maintenance facilities, and mobility operators through operations and technology. This advancement will create an environment where companies utilizing vehicles can focus on their core business without worrying about maintenance, while also enabling technicians and maintenance businesses to thrive.

A Strategic Step Forward

This partnership is an important milestone in bringing Seibii's maintenance platform vision into societal implementation. The strengths of the Orix Group, Tokyo Century Corporation, and Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. lie in their extensive customer bases, vehicle networks, and operational hubs that support Japan's mobility industry.

By combining the assets of these companies with the well-honed operations, products, and nationwide maintenance networks that Seibii has built, the growth of the business will get a substantial boost, allowing us to advance the construction of the maintenance platform further. The operational foundation established through this partnership will also serve as an open platform accessible to all mobility service providers, including existing partners and future collaborators.

This initiative is not limited to collaborations with specific companies; it's a stepping stone to realizing a new standard that supports the entire Japanese automotive industry through joint efforts with leading partners in the sector.

Future Strategies

Seibii will leverage its partnerships to promote the following initiatives:

• - Expansion and platformization of the nationwide network of technicians and maintenance facilities.
• - Advancement of maintenance digital transformation (DX) and enhancement of vehicle management using AI and data.
• - Standardization of maintenance operations that can be utilized by all mobility providers.
• - Development of systems to increase opportunities for technicians and ensure fair evaluations.

Through these efforts, we aim to create an environment where companies using vehicles can focus on their primary business while building a sustainable industry that allows technicians and maintenance facilities to thrive.

Partner Comments

Orix Corporation

Mr. Susumu Naito, Executive Officer and President of Orix Auto Corporation, expressed: "Seibii is challenging the structural issues facing the automotive maintenance industry through its national technician network and technology. Our mission is to bolster mobility through various customer interactions, and establishing a sustainable maintenance foundation is key to our success. Through our investment, we plan to merge Orix's extensive customer base and vehicle management network with Seibii's advanced operations and technology to create new maintenance services and address industry challenges."

Tokyo Century Corporation

Mr. Masaaki Terakami, Executive Officer and Head of Mobility Division at Tokyo Century Corporation, commented: "We are incredibly pleased to participate in this investment. The automotive maintenance industry is currently facing a severe technician shortage. A sustainable maintenance framework that can adapt to changing environments is essential. We strongly resonate with Seibii's vision for a quality nationwide mobile technician network and operational strength, aiming to create an environment to meet diverse maintenance needs and contribute to a safe mobility society."

Idemitsu Kosan

Mr. Katsumi Haraguchi, Executive Director of Sales Division at Idemitsu Kosan, noted: "We are delighted to invest in Seibii. Our vision for 2030 emphasizes responsible transformation, integrating both real-world and digital elements to enhance customer touchpoints. We believe that by combining Seibii's mobile maintenance network with our nationwide service network, we can positively contribute to resolving challenges in the automotive maintenance industry while ensuring our customers can safely and confidently access mobility services."

CEO’s Vision

Maki Chimura, CEO of Seibii, stated: "Since our inception, we've prioritized learning from, polishing, and implementing practices based on real-world engagements. We've realized that the industry's challenges extend beyond individual maintenance services—they lie in the overall structure behind maintenance operations. As more companies begin to utilize vehicles, the role of technicians and maintenance facilities will become increasingly crucial. We aspire to create a world where all vehicle-utilizing enterprises can concentrate on their core business without maintenance worries, while also forming a thriving and justly recognized industry for technicians and maintenance facilities. The strategic alliances with three leading mobility firms mark a significant enhancement for Seibii, bolstering our growth and advancing the implementation of our maintenance platform."

About Seibii Inc.

Founded in 2019, Seibii’s mission is to keep maintenance ongoing and create new stories around people and mobility, contributing to the sustainable development of Japan’s automotive maintenance industry. Starting with its mobile maintenance service "Seibii," the company will launch a staffing service for technicians by 2026, enhancing operations in maintenance, technician staffing, and the overall creation of a digital platform connecting technicians and facilities. Using its proprietary operational system that leverages a nationwide network of technicians and technology, Seibii supports maintenance across a wide range of mobility needs, from individual users to corporate vehicles.