AI Storm Signs Agency Agreement for Commercial EV Trucks
AI Storm Co., Ltd. partnered with EV maker ZO MOTORS to offer the 'ZM6' commercial EV truck. By leveraging its unique 'Mobility Initiative Fund', AI Storm enables SME transport operators to lease EV trucks without high initial costs, aiming to combat the logistics crisis and decarbonization challenges.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 16:35
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 20:30 (147h 54m after Collected)
AI Storm Co., Ltd. (formerly Jexeed Co., Ltd., Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO Toshio Imai; Securities Code: 3719) is pleased to announce that it has signed an agency agreement with ZO MOTORS Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director Hidetoyo Teranishi; hereinafter 'ZO MOTORS'), a fabless manufacturer of new energy commercial vehicles.
Amidst the dual pressure of soaring fuel costs and the need for decarbonization covering the industry, AI Storm sees this situation as a starting point for growth and has taken this decisive step. Through this agreement, we will tackle the two issues of management stability for transport operators and decarbonization head-on, steadily and powerfully moving forward to achieve our mid-term management plan target of a market capitalization of 50 billion yen.
◆ What is happening in Japan's logistics right now?
Japan's logistics is currently in the midst of a structural crisis. Estimates by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism indicate that by 2030, the transport capacity of commercial trucks may fall short by 34%, and the number of bankruptcies in the road freight transport industry in fiscal 2024 approached levels not seen since the Lehman Shock. Small and medium-sized operators are increasingly choosing to close their businesses, unable to cover vehicle procurement costs on their own, and the logistics infrastructure supporting Japan's daily life continues to silently lose its essential workers.
Behind this deterioration in management lies another factor.
The persistently high fuel prices driven by recent international affairs continue to gradually squeeze the profits of transport operators. In addition, the new responsibility of responding to the 2050 carbon neutral goal is weighing down on the entire industry, and the combined pressure of cost and environment is driving transport operators into a corner.
◆ Signed an Agency Agreement with ZO MOTORS
AI Storm has signed an agency agreement with ZO MOTORS, a fabless manufacturer of new energy commercial vehicles established in July 2023.
The company's philosophy that 'EVs are not special' deeply aligns with the direction of AI Storm's mobility business, which aims to deliver EV trucks to transport operators not as a 'special investment' but as 'normal vehicle procurement.'
The commercial EV truck (3t electric truck) 'ZM6' rolled out by the company is a vehicle equipped with an 81.14kWh battery capacity, offering a range of 180km per charge (WLTP / UN-R154). It comes standard with advanced features supporting driver safety and features a design that allows it to be operated with a feel close to that of an engine vehicle from the very start. Through the extensive network of JARWA (Japan Auto-body Repair Work Association), we rapidly connect customers to nearby partner factories capable of servicing EV trucks, and furthermore, a 24/7/365 road service ensures a reliable operational environment after introduction.
◆ Integration with the Mobility Initiative Fund
-- A new option to 'Procure EV trucks via a Fund'
Even utilizing subsidies, the initial cost of transitioning to EVs remains an adoption barrier for small and medium transport operators with limited financial resources. As long as there are operators on the front lines who feel 'I want to adopt it, but I can't take the step,' AI Storm will continue to respond with its unique scheme, the Mobility Initiative Fund.
With this agency agreement, the policy is to utilize the ZM6 as an eligible vehicle for the fund. By combining a mechanism where the fund owns the vehicle and the operator uses it in a lease format, along with national and municipal subsidies, it does not require a large initial investment. This brings the option of EV adoption to small and medium operators who previously had no choice but to give up due to financial constraints. Here lies an answer to the structural issues of worker shortages and decarbonization that can only be born from the intersection of finance and electrification.
The three-tiered structure of 'Fund x EV x Subsidy' will turn the electrification of commercial vehicles into everyday normalcy.
◆ Future Outlook
The Mobility Initiative Fund business has continued consecutive sellouts with a 100% close rate for all funds from No. 1 to No. 7. With each new fund, the scale of formation has expanded, with the cumulative raised amount exceeding 4 billion yen and over 300 vehicles in operation. Each and every one of those vehicles represents the accumulation of continuously facing the front-line issues of transport operators. The full-scale commencement of handling EV trucks will be a move that pushes this progress to the next stage towards the goal of 1,000 vehicles by the end of fiscal 2026.
To protect Japan so that packages keep arriving. To break through the structural issues of worker shortages, soaring fuel prices, and decarbonization via our business—AI Storm will further accelerate the Mobility Initiative Fund and ensure the achievement of our 50 billion yen market capitalization target.
◆ Company Profile
[AI Storm Co., Ltd.]
Company name: AI Sto
Amidst the dual pressure of soaring fuel costs and the need for decarbonization covering the industry, AI Storm sees this situation as a starting point for growth and has taken this decisive step. Through this agreement, we will tackle the two issues of management stability for transport operators and decarbonization head-on, steadily and powerfully moving forward to achieve our mid-term management plan target of a market capitalization of 50 billion yen.
◆ What is happening in Japan's logistics right now?
Japan's logistics is currently in the midst of a structural crisis. Estimates by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism indicate that by 2030, the transport capacity of commercial trucks may fall short by 34%, and the number of bankruptcies in the road freight transport industry in fiscal 2024 approached levels not seen since the Lehman Shock. Small and medium-sized operators are increasingly choosing to close their businesses, unable to cover vehicle procurement costs on their own, and the logistics infrastructure supporting Japan's daily life continues to silently lose its essential workers.
Behind this deterioration in management lies another factor.
The persistently high fuel prices driven by recent international affairs continue to gradually squeeze the profits of transport operators. In addition, the new responsibility of responding to the 2050 carbon neutral goal is weighing down on the entire industry, and the combined pressure of cost and environment is driving transport operators into a corner.
◆ Signed an Agency Agreement with ZO MOTORS
AI Storm has signed an agency agreement with ZO MOTORS, a fabless manufacturer of new energy commercial vehicles established in July 2023.
The company's philosophy that 'EVs are not special' deeply aligns with the direction of AI Storm's mobility business, which aims to deliver EV trucks to transport operators not as a 'special investment' but as 'normal vehicle procurement.'
The commercial EV truck (3t electric truck) 'ZM6' rolled out by the company is a vehicle equipped with an 81.14kWh battery capacity, offering a range of 180km per charge (WLTP / UN-R154). It comes standard with advanced features supporting driver safety and features a design that allows it to be operated with a feel close to that of an engine vehicle from the very start. Through the extensive network of JARWA (Japan Auto-body Repair Work Association), we rapidly connect customers to nearby partner factories capable of servicing EV trucks, and furthermore, a 24/7/365 road service ensures a reliable operational environment after introduction.
◆ Integration with the Mobility Initiative Fund
-- A new option to 'Procure EV trucks via a Fund'
Even utilizing subsidies, the initial cost of transitioning to EVs remains an adoption barrier for small and medium transport operators with limited financial resources. As long as there are operators on the front lines who feel 'I want to adopt it, but I can't take the step,' AI Storm will continue to respond with its unique scheme, the Mobility Initiative Fund.
With this agency agreement, the policy is to utilize the ZM6 as an eligible vehicle for the fund. By combining a mechanism where the fund owns the vehicle and the operator uses it in a lease format, along with national and municipal subsidies, it does not require a large initial investment. This brings the option of EV adoption to small and medium operators who previously had no choice but to give up due to financial constraints. Here lies an answer to the structural issues of worker shortages and decarbonization that can only be born from the intersection of finance and electrification.
The three-tiered structure of 'Fund x EV x Subsidy' will turn the electrification of commercial vehicles into everyday normalcy.
◆ Future Outlook
The Mobility Initiative Fund business has continued consecutive sellouts with a 100% close rate for all funds from No. 1 to No. 7. With each new fund, the scale of formation has expanded, with the cumulative raised amount exceeding 4 billion yen and over 300 vehicles in operation. Each and every one of those vehicles represents the accumulation of continuously facing the front-line issues of transport operators. The full-scale commencement of handling EV trucks will be a move that pushes this progress to the next stage towards the goal of 1,000 vehicles by the end of fiscal 2026.
To protect Japan so that packages keep arriving. To break through the structural issues of worker shortages, soaring fuel prices, and decarbonization via our business—AI Storm will further accelerate the Mobility Initiative Fund and ensure the achievement of our 50 billion yen market capitalization target.
◆ Company Profile
[AI Storm Co., Ltd.]
Company name: AI Sto