The Aichi Prefectural Government is stepping up demonstration tests aimed at launching Japan's first commercially operated autonomous bus service on an expressway.
In fiscal 2025, which ended in March, the prefecture repeatedly carried out Level 2 trial runs, in which a driver remains on board and handles some operations manually. The tests helped identify a number of challenges.
Aichi aims to secure approval for the practical deployment of Level 4 autonomous driving in fiscal 2027. Under Level 4 autonomy, a vehicle can operate without a driver under specific conditions.
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