Japan autonomous transport FY2027: Daiichi Kotsu and NTT Mobility plan Kyushu trials

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Autonomous transport in Japan is being prepared not only for major cities. Transport group Daiichi Kotsu Sangyo and technology company NTT Mobility signed an agreement on October 8 to introduce autonomous vehicles into regional passenger services. Trials are planned to begin in fiscal 2027, with practical deployment targeted for fiscal 2028.

The first priority areas will be selected on Kyushu, where the Daiichi Kotsu group already provides passenger transport. Daiichi Kotsu will operate the future service model, while NTT Mobility will select and provide autonomous vehicles, handle their introduction and support operations. Local authorities and other regional stakeholders are also expected to join the project.

According to NTT Mobility, one reason for the program is a shortage of transport workers amid Japan’s shrinking and aging population. Public transport is becoming less accessible in some areas and so-called transport deserts are expanding, making autonomous vehicles one possible way to preserve mobility where conventional services are increasingly difficult to maintain.

The project differs from better-known initiatives in Japanese megacities. Waymo, together with Nihon Kotsu and GO, is preparing a fully driverless commercial service in Tokyo for 2027, with the fleet expected to expand gradually to around 100 vehicles. The Daiichi Kotsu and NTT Mobility agreement instead builds on an existing regional operator network, with the possibility of later expansion to other parts of Japan.

NTT Mobility is already involved in autonomous-vehicle testing. Since September, it has participated in a project in Toyota City, where Toyota Sienna-based vehicles and electric e-Palette shuttles equipped with May Mobility technology are being tested on three routes. These trials currently operate at Level 2 automation, while Level 4 is being considered as the next target.

The new agreement does not yet specify vehicle models, the size of the future fleet or trip pricing. It also does not state the automation level of the vehicles that will enter the first routes. These details should become clearer once the Kyushu locations and test scenarios are selected.