Job Change x Trend News] Go for Fully Automated Driving (Level 4)! Summary of the latest status of automated buses and trucks

Here you will find trending news topics in the automotive and mobility markets around the world.

We carefully select interesting news in the automotive industry, both domestic and international, and translate and summarize the contents for your reference. We hope you will find it useful in catching up with the latest news in the industry.

First nationwide demonstration test of self-driving buses Aiming for implementation in FY2017

Feb 7, 2025 by Town News

On January 27, 2025, Kawasaki City launched the nation’s first automated driving experiment for bus routes that straddle the metropolitan area and prefectures. The experiment will be conducted on two routes: between Daishi-bashi Station and Tenkubashi Station, and between Kawasaki Station and Kawasaki Municipal Hospital .

Behind this initiative is a serious shortage of drivers, and the number of bus services in the city is decreasing from 12,400 daily in 2018 to 10,100 by 2023. After the test ride, Mayor Norihiko Fukuda said he was impressed by the high level of technology, with the vehicle running at a stable speed of 35 km/h. He expressed his intention to roll out this “Kawasaki model” nationwide.

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First in Japan! The “Hitachi BRT Automated Bus”, a Level 4 automated medium-sized bus, is now in service!

Feb 3, 2025 By Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The Level 4 automated driving demonstration project promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, has begun commercial operation, with the necessary permits and approvals to be obtained by January 24, 2025, making it the first Level 4 automated driving service in Japan for a medium-sized bus operated by Ibaraki Kotsu Co.

On February 2, a departure ceremony was held attended by Mr. Kato, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Mayor Ogawa of Hitachi City, and local residents were invited to test drive the service. This service is expected to become a new mobility model for the region.

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T2 holds a briefing session on the automated truck demonstration experiment

Feb 6, 2025 By LOGISTICS TODAY

T2, Seino Transport, and Japan Post announced that they will jointly conduct a demonstration experiment of trunk line transportation by automated trucks.

From October to December 2024, a dummy cargo test was conducted between Numazu and Hamamatsu, and from January 2025, a test will be conducted using actual cargo over a distance of up to 400 kilometers. T2 aims to commercialize Level 4 automated trucks by 2027, and plans to gradually transition to fully automated driving through the improvement of object recognition technology.

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