Mitsui OSK Lines debuts MOL CART

Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has launched a new business-to-consumer (B2C) called MOL CART providing an international delivery and forwarding service for overseas residents, as well as serving as a temporary storage of goods purchased from Japanese online shopping sites.

“MOL CART is a delivery and forwarding service that delivers all kinds of Japanese products to overseas residents easily and safely and offers highly convenient warehousing and logistics services for a variety of situations by offering virtual warehousing functions that can be managed by customers themselves,” the company explained in a release, the latest in a series of business diversification strategies at Japan’s largest shipowner.

The MOL CART platform has been developed in collaboration with a tech start-up founded by former Sony engineers with experience in PlayStation development.

In April 2023, MOL established its Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business Division to develop businesses that enhance the well-being and lifestyles of all stakeholders. The division encompasses diverse businesses, including real estate, cruise ships, and ferries, other than the traditional scope of shipping. By expanding and growing these businesses, MOL is taking on the challenge of creating new value in response to the diverse needs of society. MOL CART as a prime example aims to maximize customer synergies.

Last week, MOL bought a majority stake in NODE, Japanese human resources consulting business, while yesterday Splash reported yesterday the shipping line had tied up with trading house Marubeni to create a joint venture company called Marubeni MOL Forests to create, purchase, sell, and retire nature-based carbon removal credits.