Plug and Play Japan Refreshes Mobility Vertical to 'Mobility & Physical AI'

Plug and Play Japan (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Vincent Phillips) is pleased to announce the rebranding of its "Mobility" vertical to "Mobility & Physical AI."

This change is more than just a name update; it is a strategic evolution of our initiatives in the mobility sector, designed to effectively address the structural changes facing Japan's core industries. With this shift, we will expand our support beyond existing areas like autonomous driving, sensing, connectivity, and manufacturing to include robotics, smart manufacturing, and urban development—areas where "Physical AI" enables AI to perceive, judge, and control in the physical world. This rebranding aligns with Plug and Play's global strategy, including our Silicon Valley headquarters and international offices, while remaining tailored to Japan's specific market needs and core industries.

[Background]

Globally, the mobility industry is shifting from a focus on vehicle functionality and diverse transportation methods toward software, AI, robotics, smart manufacturing, digital twins, and urban development. This is evident as industrial robot OEMs, component manufacturers, and control system companies enter the industry as new stakeholders.

The rising importance of Physical AI is particularly noteworthy. Unlike generative AI, which processes information in digital spaces, Physical AI implements technology in the real world. By integrating AI into vehicles, equipment, and robots, it brings autonomy to logistics, manufacturing, autonomous driving, healthcare, construction, and disaster response. It is expected to drive industrial growth and help solve social issues in Japan, such as the declining birthrate and aging population.

We have previously addressed mobility through the lens of vehicles, human movement, and urban development. However, we recognize that Physical AI is essential for the next stage of growth for Japanese mobility companies and stakeholders, leading to this decision.

[Objectives]

Through the transition to "Mobility & Physical AI," Plug and Play Japan will leverage its network of over 60 global locations to provide timely access to cutting-edge technology and insights. We will support Japan's core industries by facilitating startup collaborations, PoC support, strategy formulation, market analysis, and consortium management, ultimately contributing to the creation of a cross-industry co-creation platform suitable for the Physical AI era. Integrating Physical AI into the mobility industry will encompass not only autonomous driving and in-vehicle systems but also intelligent factories, digital twin-based design and verification, autonomous robotics, and infrastructure.