TIER IV which developed the world’s first autonomous driving open-source software and Newmo, a mobility startup recently announced their collaboration commercializing robotaxi services in Japan. The partnership emphasizes the need for more autonomous vehicles.
The Japanese government is actively planning by 2027 on having autonomous vehicles available in over 100 locations. This goal indicates that deployment of commercial robotaxi services is a high priority for Japan.
In large cities, for instance, like San Francisco, robotaxi bookings amount to 27% of autonomous rides.
Another factor driving autonomous vehicles adoption is Japan’s aging population and the need for commercial autonomous robotaxi services to meet increasing regional mobility demands.
The two organizations will integrate Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving, to produce safe, reliable autonomous driving systems. TIER IV’s experience in global proof of concept tests under diverse conditions provides the basis for advancing commercial deployments of Japanese robotaxi services.
Both companies, TIER IV and Newmo are bolstering, expanding and commercializing robotaxi services as a new mobility solution and establish robotaxi services across Japan:
‘At TIER IV, we have dedicated ourselves to accelerating the deployment of autonomous driving through Autoware, collaborating with communities and partners worldwide,’ said Shinpei Kato, founder and CEO of TIER IV. ‘This new partnership with Newmo, a company actively addressing regional transportation challenges through taxi and ride-hailing services, will advance the development of robotaxi technologies. Through this collaboration, we aim to establish a robotaxi service anchored in Japan and make it an essential part of the mobility infrastructure that supports local communities.’
‘As Japan faces increasingly severe transportation challenges driven by demographic shifts, robotaxis will play a pivotal role in shaping next-generation infrastructure,’ said Newmo CEO Naoki Aoyagi. ‘At Newmo, we have leveraged our operational and technological expertise in local taxi and Japan-style ridesharing services to address mobility issues head-on. By partnering with TIER IV, a company at the forefront of autonomous driving, we are combining our operational know-how with cutting-edge technology to steadily advance the commercialization of robotaxi services originating in Japan. Together with our stakeholders, we remain committed to fulfilling our mission of ‘A colorful journey with Newmo, unleashing the potential of individuals and communities with new mobility services.’
