Green Motion International has expanded into Japan after awarding its master country franchise to car rental entrepreneur Tomoharu Shirakawa, extending the company's presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Green Motion is open in the Narita Airport (Tokyo) and New Chitose Airport, with expansion plans for downtown Tokyo this year, and Haneda, Kansai, Nagoya and Fukuoka Airports over the following 12-24 months.

Shirakawa will lead Green Motion Japan and oversee the introduction of the brand's vehicle rental operations in the country. The expansion supports its strategy of growing through experienced local operators in key international markets.

Green Motion cited Japan's tourism industry, business travel market and demand for vehicle rental services as reasons the country represents an important market for the company. The brand, founded in the United Kingdom in 2007, now operates franchise locations in more than 80 countries across Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

The company said its franchise network emphasizes customer service while seeking to reduce the environmental effects of vehicle rental through efficient operations and the availability of lower-emission vehicles where available.

Richard Lowden, founder and CEO of Green Motion International, said in a June 26 news release: "Expanding into Japan further strengthens our presence across the Asia-Pacific region. Tomoharu is a highly respected entrepreneur with extensive experience in the Japanese car rental industry, and we have every confidence that he and his team will establish Green Motion as a leading mobility provider in this important market. We look forward to working closely with Tomoharu and his team as they introduce our unique style of service to customers throughout Japan."