Orix Auto, Senko, Fuji Transport, and Robotruck's "L4 Logistics Autonomous Driving Trailer Promotion Council" Selected for Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "FY2026 Autonomous Driving Truck Implementation Support Project"

The "L4 Logistics Autonomous Driving Trailer Promotion Council," comprised of four companies: Orix Auto Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Susumu Naito; hereinafter "Orix Auto"), Senko Corporation (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka; President: Noboru Ogoshi; hereinafter "Senko"), Fuji Transport Corporation (Headquarters: Nara City, Nara Prefecture; President: Hiroaki Matsuoka; hereinafter "Fuji Transport"), and Robotruck Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yusuke Haga; hereinafter "Robotruck"), has been selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "FY2026 Autonomous Driving Truck Implementation Support Project." This marks the second consecutive year the council has been selected for a subsidy project, following the previous fiscal year.

This year, building on the knowledge gained from approximately 4,800 km of public road demonstrations conducted last fiscal year, the council will conduct demonstration runs with an expanded operational area, and in preparation for future social implementation, will verify the feasibility of an operational system combining remote monitoring, emergency response, and hub operations.

Within this council, Robotruck is responsible for the technological development of autonomous driving semi-trailers, while Orix Auto is leveraging its expertise in the automotive business to work on establishing a remote monitoring system and commercialization. Senko and Fuji Transport will provide the actual logistics environment, and the four companies are advancing discussions on an operational system for the practical use of autonomous driving semi-trailers, each utilizing their respective strengths.

*This will be conducted under conditions where a driver is present and can immediately intervene in driving operations.

Background and Objectives of the Project

The "2024 Logistics Problem," characterized by labor shortages and reduced transport capacity due to stricter overtime regulations for truck drivers, is becoming increasingly severe, making the securing of stable transport capacity a critical social issue. In this context, the social implementation of autonomous driving trucks on expressways is expected to improve transport efficiency, ensure safety, and contribute to the establishment of sustainable logistics services.

Overview of the FY2026 Project

In this demonstration, the operational area will be expanded compared to the public road demonstrations conducted last fiscal year. Demonstration runs of autonomous driving trucks will be conducted primarily on expressway sections spanning approximately 430 km from Atsugi-Minami IC to Hamamatsu SA Smart IC to Kyoto-Minami IC. During operation, trailer exchanges will be performed at "TSUNAGU STATION Hamamatsu," a hub developed by Senko in Shizuoka Prefecture for relay transport, with the aim of conducting relay transport.

Furthermore, in this demonstration run, Orix Auto, the representative company of this council, will take the lead in establishing and verifying the effectiveness of an operational management system for actual logistics sites, including remote monitoring, emergency response, and hub operations.

In addition, a system for integrated verification of operation, remote monitoring, and hub operations will be established in cooperation with collaborating businesses in each field, including technical cooperation from Hino Motors, Ltd., support for building a remote monitoring system from NTT Docomo Business, Ltd., support for remote monitoring operations from Premier Aid Inc., and support for risk response and insurance from Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.

[Implementation Structure]

[Image of This Demonstration]

Future Initiatives

Based on the results of this project's demonstrations, Orix Auto, Senko, Fuji Transport, and Robotruck will proceed with concretizing operational models and organizing implementation conditions for the social implementation of autonomous driving trucks, thereby promoting the realization of sustainable logistics services through autonomous driving trucks.

Main Roles of Each Company

Company Name

Main Role

Orix Auto Corporation

Project promotion, overall plan management, establishment of operational system through remote monitoring

Senko Corporation

Provision of logistics facilities for origin, destination, and relay points, lending of demonstration trailers, advice as a logistics provider

Fuji Transport Corporation

Lending of demonstration trailers, advice as a logistics provider

Robotruck Inc.

Development of autonomous driving system, execution of driving tests and demonstration runs

Inquiries regarding this matter

Orix Corporation

Group Public Relations and Investor Relations Department

TEL: 03-3435-3167

Website: https://www.orix.co.jp/grp/

Senko Corporation

General Affairs Department, Public Relations

TEL: 06-6440-5158

E-mail: soum@sknet.senko.co.jp

Website: https://www.senko.co.jp/

Fuji Transport Corporation

Operations Department

TEL: 0742-61-7011 E-mail: anzen@fujitransport.com Website: https://www.fujitransport.com/

Robotruck Inc.

Public Relations

E-mail: info@robotruck.jp

Website: https://robotruck.jp/

LinkedIn: https://jp.linkedin.com/company/robotruck-inc