These Self-Driving EV Taxis Could Soon Be Hitting the Roads in Japan

The next time you go to Japan, you could very well find yourself taking a self-driving taxi.

The Japanese start-up Tier IV is hoping to soon put autonomous EV cabs on the road in Tokyo, Wired reported last Thursday. The country’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has chosen the company for a demonstration project, and Tier IV has already begun development.

“We aim to package everything from the vehicle to the system so that we can start commercial operation of autonomous taxis within a few months of starting the project,” Shinpei Kato, the founder of Tier IV, told Wired.

The company is working on a mini-van-esque electric vehicle that could take four to six passengers, plus a driver who would monitor the car while it pilots itself. The large windows and open interior allow for a spacious driving experience, while sensors attached to the body and a remote monitoring system help to ensure safety. Toray Carbon Magic is teaming up with Tier IV to help build the prototype, and once tests have been carried out, a mass-production version will be created. The vehicle will only be sold as an autonomous taxi, though.

While it’s unclear what the timeline is for that widely available vehicle, Tier IV will begin commercial operation of Japan’s first Level 4 autonomous taxis in November, Wired wrote. When that starts, the company will use a more compact vehicle that it carried out demonstrations with earlier this year. Eventually, the minivan-like cab will roll out, with Tier IV hoping to keep operating costs equal to or lower than those for traditional taxis.

The software that Tier IV has created to help its self-driving cars run, called Autoware, is available as an open-source resource for other companies, too. So while Tier IV is focused on making its technology the best that it can be, it’s also looking to others to help push autonomous driving forward.

“In the future, we will be able to flexibly respond to requests depending on the region and demand, providing only software, only parts, or even entire vehicles and systems,” Kato said. “Which part will take up more weight will depend on the country or region, and frankly we don’t know yet. Still, we want to be in a position to provide everything if there is a demand.”

Given how many companies are trying to get into the self-driving game, that demand already seems relatively strong.