Initiative for the Social Implementation of Automated Logistics Roads (MLIT) for FY2025: Operational Verification at Logistics Bases Assuming Automated Logistics Roads at Landport Yokohama Sugita
Six companies including Nomura Real Estate and IHI conducted a demonstration experiment for the social implementation of 'Automated Logistics Roads' promoted by the MLIT at Landport Yokohama Sugita. The experiment verified the feasibility of automated cargo transfer and coordination with truck arrival information to address the serious driver shortage.
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- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 16:40
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Nomura Real Estate Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo / President and CEO: Daisaku Matsuo, hereinafter "Nomura Real Estate"), IHI Corporation (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo / President and CEO: Hiroshi Ide, hereinafter "IHI"), IHI Logistics & Machinery Corporation (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo / President and CEO: Motohiro Kawada, hereinafter "IHI Logistics & Machinery"), Nakao Industries Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Arida-gun, Wakayama / President: Masahiro Nakao, hereinafter "Nakao Industries"), Fuji Transport Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nara City, Nara / President: Hiroaki Matsuoka, hereinafter "Fuji Transport"), and NX Logistics Research Institute (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo / President and CEO: Michihito Suzuki, hereinafter "NX Logistics Research Institute") conducted a demonstration experiment (FY2025 project) on January 29-30 at "Landport Yokohama Sugita" (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture), jointly developed by Nomura Real Estate and IHI, aimed at the social implementation of the "Automated Logistics Road" concept promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).
On the public demonstration day, approximately 70 members from the consortium for the implementation of automated logistics roads, along with many members of the media, attended the observation tour. This demonstration experiment focused on verifying the feasibility of automating cargo transfer at logistics bases, primarily focusing on "improving the efficiency of unmanned cargo handling" (Use Case 1) and "coordination with estimated truck arrival information" (Use Case 6). We are pleased to announce the results, challenges identified, and future directions obtained through this demonstration experiment.
1. What is an Automated Logistics Road?
This is a general term for the new logistics infrastructure "Autoflow Road" promoted by the MLIT. It aims to establish a system where specialized spaces for logistics are provided within road spaces, and unmanned/automated transport vehicles use clean energy to automatically transport cargo 24 hours a day. Automated logistics roads were conceived to address structural issues facing Japanese logistics, such as the worsening shortage of drivers, smaller and more frequent logistics lots, rising fuel costs, and the reduction of CO2 emissions. The MLIT aims to start operations in sections (pilot routes) that can be implemented with small-scale improvements by the mid-2030s and is working toward social implementation through public-private partnership initiatives such as demonstration experiments.
*1 Summary of FY2025 demonstration experiments for social implementation of automated logistics roads (Excerpt from MLIT website)
*2 MLIT Website: Changing Japan's Logistics, Automated Logistics Roads
On the public demonstration day, approximately 70 members from the consortium for the implementation of automated logistics roads, along with many members of the media, attended the observation tour. This demonstration experiment focused on verifying the feasibility of automating cargo transfer at logistics bases, primarily focusing on "improving the efficiency of unmanned cargo handling" (Use Case 1) and "coordination with estimated truck arrival information" (Use Case 6). We are pleased to announce the results, challenges identified, and future directions obtained through this demonstration experiment.
1. What is an Automated Logistics Road?
This is a general term for the new logistics infrastructure "Autoflow Road" promoted by the MLIT. It aims to establish a system where specialized spaces for logistics are provided within road spaces, and unmanned/automated transport vehicles use clean energy to automatically transport cargo 24 hours a day. Automated logistics roads were conceived to address structural issues facing Japanese logistics, such as the worsening shortage of drivers, smaller and more frequent logistics lots, rising fuel costs, and the reduction of CO2 emissions. The MLIT aims to start operations in sections (pilot routes) that can be implemented with small-scale improvements by the mid-2030s and is working toward social implementation through public-private partnership initiatives such as demonstration experiments.
*1 Summary of FY2025 demonstration experiments for social implementation of automated logistics roads (Excerpt from MLIT website)
*2 MLIT Website: Changing Japan's Logistics, Automated Logistics Roads