A growing number of carsharing operators in Japan are reporting that some customers who rent vehicles never actually drive them, according to The Asahi Shimbun. Instead, customers are using the vehicles to take naps, work, and store items for a short time.

In summer 2018, Japanese carsahring group Orix Auto Corp. noticed that some vehicles returned had no added mileage. Other carsharing companies started reporting similar trends. Times24 Co., a carsharing operator in Japan, sent out a survey to its customers, which led to the discovery of vehicles being used for things other than transportation. 

Other customers responded saying they rented out vehicles to use as a dressing room, practice singing, hold business calls, and charge their phones, among other uses.

While most people who rent vehicles do use them for transportation, the number who use them for other purposes is slowly rising.