The Future of Mobility Services: The CEO of MaaS Global, the Operator of Whim

Against the backdrop of a shifting paradigm in future society, an app-based mobility service called MaaS was born. MaaS stands for ‘Mobility as a Service,’ which signifies viewing transportation as a service. Much like the now-commonplace food and laundry delivery services—where instead of cooking or washing at home, people order and pay via the internet or apps to receive the services they need—MaaS Global has emerged as a network company that provides transportation services as convenient as owning a private car, tailored to the user's travel purposes without the need for actual car ownership.

In Helsinki, the capital of Finland, the popularization of mobility services is succeeding through the app ‘Whim,’ led by Sampo Hietanen and others with active support from the Finnish government.

By combining Helsinki’s buses, subways, taxis, rental cars, car-sharing, and even bicycles, the service provides the fastest and most affordable means to reach a destination. Its goal is to reduce private car usage in cities while offering rational pricing and convenience. Since the launch of the Whim service, there has been a documented effect of decreased private car use and increased public transportation ridership.