Apatech Motors and Willport begin to collaborate on the establishment of a next-generation EV logistics platform

November 11, 2022

(To download the press release, please click here)

Apatech Motors Ltd., Co. (headquartered in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Feng Sun; hereinafter “Apatech Motors”) is preparing to launch a world-class Chinese EV manufacturer in Japan, and is currently working to launch the EV in Japan in the spring of 2023, and Willport Co. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Yasunori Fujiwara, President; hereinafter referred to as “Willport”), which aims to develop a nationwide O.L.P. (last mile delivery platform) that can be used by small and medium-sized businesses, have started to consider collaboration as of October 28, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as “ the Consideration”) regarding the supply of popular commercial light EV and light passenger EV vehicles utilizing OLP.

■Environment and Outlook for the Logistics Industry

In the last one-mile logistics industry, the volume of delivery services has increased by approximately 1.2 billion pieces over the past 10 years, and is expected to reach 8.8 billion pieces per year by 2035. On the other hand, the shortage of couriers in the last mile area has not been resolved, and the number of packages handled by each driver is increasing.
The so-called “2024 problem,” in which the shortage of carriers will become even more difficult by 2024 due to the upper working hour limit for automobile driving, is also looming, and the very foundation of logistics, the “delivery of goods as a matter of course,” is in danger of collapsing. In addition, expectations are growing for a shift to EVs in the last one-mile due to recent SDG’s initiatives.

Meanwhile, the “Regulatory Reform Plan” (approved by the Japanese Cabinet on June 7, 2022) will allow the use of light passenger cars in addition to light freight vehicles that can be used in the light freight vehicle transportation business, which is expected to increase the number of last mile drivers other than full-time professional drivers such as housewives and students.

■Aims of the Partnership

Under such circumstances, Apatech Motors and Willport have begun to consider offering EV vehicles with extremely low costs, which have a proven track record overseas, on OLP through subscriptions and leases. Through the collaboration between the two companies, we expect that the environment will advance the availability of Apatec Motors’ attractive EV vehicles on OLP, where Willport aims to register more than 30,000 vehicles by 2027.

Apatec Motors and Wellport will now proceed with detailed discussions with the aim of concluding a basic agreement on the business alliance by the end of FY2023.