The proportion of individuals aged 65 and older in Japan’s total population has reached 29.1% as of 2023, indicating that more than one in four people is elderly. Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation supports this super-aged society by leasing welfare vehicles. In addition, the company also provides attentive services that help customers feel reassured and satisfied with their choice of our services.

Welfare vehicles are typically used for daily transportation by social welfare organizations and hospitals. However, the vehicles available on the market often have specifications with both advantages and disadvantages, making it challenging to find options that fully meet the diverse needs of users based on their conditions while also ensuring ease of use for caregivers. Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation distinguishes itself in the auto leasing industry by owning plants that enable the company to perform in-house outfitting (equipping vehicles with special parts or equipment). This allows the company to provide safe, comfortable welfare vehicles tailored to customer requirements.

Here are a few examples of vehicle outfitting:

・Modifying vehicles to accommodate three wheelchairs, increasing the standard capacity, which is typically for one or two, to enhance transportation efficiency and support vehicle fleet optimization
・Modifying vehicles to accommodate reclining or larger wheelchairs
・Installing additional handrails
・Equipping a passenger seat with electric steps to facilitate easier access to and from the seat
・Installing a three-step staircase with a handrail on the sliding section for easier access to and from the vehicle

Tomohiro Kamiya from Sales Promotion Section 2 in the Sales Planning and Operations Department, who is responsible for promoting the leasing of welfare vehicles, shares the following insights.

"As sales representatives, we prioritize actively listening to our customers and understanding their specific needs. Our goal is to provide vehicles that ensure user comfort and are also easy to operate for support staff, who often face physically demanding situations. We also aim to enhance transportation efficiency. Adding an extra step on the passenger side to bridge a five-centimeter gap significantly improves user accessibility. Likewise, increasing the wheelchair spaces from two to three will boost transportation efficiency and help optimize fleet size. To gather meaningful input like this from customers, we work to engage in constructive, ongoing dialogues. Therefore, sales team members undergo advance training to gain comprehensive knowledge about the welfare industry and welfare vehicles, preparing ourselves with a full understanding of on-site challenges. Every day, we strive to improve our service quality to meet customer expectations."

Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation sets itself apart by not relying solely on its sales representatives. Mitsuyoshi Satake from the Vehicle Maintenance Center in the Maintenance Service Promotion Department, who is responsible for the outfitting of welfare vehicles, elaborates further.

"When our sales representatives engage in discussions with customers, there are often instances where they need specialized knowledge. In such cases, a technical staff member from the Vehicle Maintenance Center accompanies the sales representative to directly hear the customer’s requests. We sometimes bring a demonstration vehicle for our customers to see firsthand while discussing their needs."

The seamless collaboration between our knowledgeable sales representatives and the highly skilled staff at the Vehicle Maintenance Center is a distinctive strength of Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation, which operates its own outfitting facilities.

Hitachi Capital Auto-Lease* before merger with Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Coporation launched its welfare vehicle business in 2008 through the acquisition of the welfare vehicle outfitting and sales business from Ban Elite Satake Corp., a company specializing in the modification, outfitting, and sales of welfare vehicles in Gifu Prefecture. Amid growing demand for welfare vehicles, the two companies shared a vision to build their strengths in this field, which brought them together. Ban Elite Satake Corp. had built its expertise in welfare vehicle outfitting since 1994, when such vehicles were not yet widely recognized.
*Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation and Mitsubishi HC Capital Auto-Lease Corporation (formerly Hitachi Capital Auto Lease Corporation) merged in April 2023.

In addition to vehicle outfitting, Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation offers maintenance services for the installed components. Welfare vehicles have relatively shorter travel distances than standard commercial vehicles. However, due to the frequent use of their ramps and lifts, even a small amount of sand or debris caught between the rollers and rails can cause malfunctions, resulting in significant repair costs. Including maintenance services in contracts allows for regular inspections, which help prevent serious failures.

"As we work to become an auto leasing company that is strong in welfare, we are dedicated to training sales representatives who can attentively listen to customer needs. Additionally, by thoroughly understanding our customers’ individual requests through on-site hearings, we aim to deliver outfitting that reflects a spirit of hospitality, or ‘plus-one service,’ tailored to each user’s specific condition," says Kamiya.

Satake concludes, "Automobile manufacturers are continuously developing new welfare vehicles. Remaining attuned to such advancements, we strive to provide outfitting that is unique to our company. Furthermore, to enhance the knowledge of sales representatives nationwide about welfare vehicles and the nursing care industry, I aspire to become a source of information and to proactively share the expertise I have developed."

The automobile industry is currently advancing toward electric vehicles (EVs). Even though the introduction of welfare EVs is projected to take some time, changes in vehicle structures will likely affect our outfitting methods. Through monitoring such rapid technological advancements, we aim to lead Japan’s mobility services and remain responsive to the evolving demands of the times.