ecoro and Shimizu Corporation Conduct Joint Demonstration for Social Implementation of Next-Generation Logistics Infrastructure 'Autoflow Road'

To the media,

echoro Inc. (Headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture / President and Representative Director: Miyu Nishihira, hereinafter "ecoro") and Shimizu Corporation (Headquarters: Chuo Ward, Tokyo / President and CEO: Tatsuya Niimura, hereinafter "Shimizu Corporation") conducted a joint demonstration experiment toward the social implementation of the 'Autoflow Road' concept promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), at Shimizu Corporation's R&D hub 'NOVARE Forest of Innovation' (Koto Ward, Tokyo) in April 2026.

※1 Overview of Demonstration Experiments for Social Implementation of Autoflow Road (Fiscal Year 2025) (excerpt from MLIT website)

This demonstration experiment primarily focused on Use Case ④ (Communication Stability) of the Autoflow Road※2, aiming to verify the driving accuracy and communication stability of autonomous EVs in outdoor environments, and to utilize the collected data in business simulations (transport volume estimation).

※2 MLIT website: Transforming Japan's Logistics: The Autoflow Road - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

1. Background of the Demonstration Experiment

Japan's logistics industry faces multiple structural challenges, including driver shortages, increasing frequency of small-lot shipments, rising fuel costs, and CO₂ emission reductions. To address these issues, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is promoting a new infrastructure called the 'Autoflow Road,' which designates dedicated logistics spaces within roadways where unmanned, automated transporters operate 24 hours a day using clean energy. Both companies are participating in the consortium for this initiative.

echoro is a startup specializing in automating outdoor transport within large facilities such as factories, logistics warehouses, and airports. The company has developed a next-generation logistics system that integrates autonomous outdoor EVs for pallet transport with automated loading/unloading mechanisms, achieving higher transport efficiency than forklifts, AMRs, and AGVs, while maintaining lower operating costs than trucks.

Shimizu Corporation is advancing research and development of next-generation logistics infrastructure by leveraging its expertise in planning and constructing highways, logistics hubs, and junctions.

The two companies determined that their respective strengths—ecoro in 'autonomous transport system development' and Shimizu Corporation in 'infrastructure, facility design, and system integration'—are mutually complementary in realizing the Autoflow Road, leading to this joint demonstration experiment.

This demonstration was conducted with support from 'Forge,' a hardware accelerator program operated by TSI Corporation, as part of Tokyo's Global Innovation Cluster Creation Project 'TIB CATAPULT.'

※3 Forge website: https://forge-tokyo.com/ja/

2. Overview of the Demonstration Experiment

Implementation Period: April 2025

Location: NOVARE Forest of Innovation (Koto Ward, Tokyo)

Purpose of the Experiment: To extract insights on how ecoro's strengths (autonomous transport vehicles and overall system control technology) and Shimizu Corporation's strengths (infrastructure, construction, and system integration) can complement each other, and to clarify further technical and business issues that need to be addressed for full-scale implementation.

Participants in Public Viewing Day: Approximately 100 attendees, including business partners, investors, and venture capitalists

Viewing Day Highlights: Available here.

Main Verification Items

Communication Stability: Logs of signal strength and heartbeat transmission/reception during driving were collected to measure the frequency of communication outages and recovery time.

Stopping Accuracy and Self-Position Estimation Accuracy: Multiple consecutive runs were conducted at varying speeds to measure errors in stopping position and self-position estimation.

Data Utilization in Business Simulation: Collected driving data was integrated into transport volume estimation models to quantitatively evaluate hub operation conditions and business viability on the Autoflow Road.

Feasibility of Integration with Shimizu Corporation's Autonomous Driving Platform: The possibility of connecting and achieving coordinated control between Shimizu Corporation's system—which integrates building equipment, service robots, and autonomous vehicles—and ecoro's outdoor driving control stack was examined.

During the public viewing day, presentations on the experiment overview, collaboration framework, and technologies, along with live demonstration runs, were conducted. Numerous participants expressed interest in capital and business partnerships. Those interested in specific experimental results are encouraged to contact ecoro Inc. directly.

4. Overview of Technologies Used in the Demonstration

echoro's system is a centralized, integrated autonomous transport platform that synchronizes vehicles, terminals, and control software seamlessly from loading to unloading.

System Components

Autonomous Transport Vehicle (Shuttle): Achieves self-position estimation and driving control outdoors with minimal sensor configuration. Can be deployed without major construction or layout changes, and allows scalability by adding vehicles without increasing infrastructure investment.

Loading/Unloading Mechanism (Terminal): Enables continuous transport with no waiting time and high speed (5 seconds per pallet) through unmanned loading and unloading.

Control Software (ecoro Control Center): Centrally manages equipment control, decision-making, plan execution, and operation monitoring. Real-time visibility of the entire fleet's operational status enables autonomous execution of optimal transport plans.

5. Roles and Future Directions of Each Company

ecoro: Provision of autonomous transport EV system, driving demonstration, and data collection

echoro leverages insights gained from participation in national logistics projects in Europe and private-sector initiatives, working closely with Japanese companies to advance the new field of intra-facility and inter-building autonomous transport. This demonstration experiment provided a valuable opportunity to concretely demonstrate the strengths and characteristics of ecoro's system, as well as the significance of collaboration with Shimizu Corporation. Moving forward, we will deepen collaboration with Japanese companies and contribute to strengthening and advancing Japan's logistics infrastructure through continuous technological development and service improvement. (Miyu Nishihira, Representative, ecoro Inc.)

Shimizu Corporation: Provision of demonstration site and facility operations

Through this demonstration experiment, we were able to confirm the technical requirements and specifications of ecoro's autonomous transport vehicles through actual driving, and to understand the realities of on-site operations. This was a valuable opportunity to more concretely envision the requirements and challenges that need to be addressed from the perspective of infrastructure and facility design toward the social implementation of the Autoflow Road. Going forward, we will continue to deepen collaboration toward realizing next-generation logistics infrastructure by pooling our respective expertise. (Fumuya Matsushita / Responsible Officer, Shimizu Corporation)

Future Directions

Leveraging Shimizu Corporation's expertise in infrastructure planning and design and ecoro's outdoor autonomous transport system, we will continue to explore technological and business collaborations toward realizing the Autoflow Road concept, with an eye toward refining business simulations and expanding into multiple use cases.