RoboTruck's Automated Driving System for Large Trucks Selected for FY2026 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism "Automated Driving Truck Implementation Support Project" in Consortium with Toyota Tsusho, 7 Logistics Companies, and Hino Motors

RoboTruck Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo, CEO Yusuke Haga, hereinafter "RoboTruck") has been selected, as the "Toyota Tsusho Consortium" comprising Toyota Tsusho Corporation as the representative, seven logistics companies (Otsuka Warehouse Co., Ltd., Konoike Transport Co., Ltd., Sagawa Express Co., Ltd., Shibusawa Warehouse Co., Ltd., Suzuyo Co., Ltd., Seino Transportation Co., Ltd., and Fukuyama Transporting Co., Ltd.), Hino Motors, Ltd., and Advanced Mobility Co., Ltd., for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "Automated Driving Truck Implementation Support Project."

This marks the second consecutive year of participation in a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism project, following last year's "Demonstration Project for Social Implementation of Trunk Line Transportation by Automated Driving Trucks" (hereinafter referred to as last year's subsidy project). This year, a larger number of logistics companies are participating compared to last year, and technical support from Hino Motors is being received, accelerating development and demonstration towards the early social implementation of automated driving trucks.

Project Overview

Within the Toyota Tsusho Consortium, our company will be responsible for the technological development of the automated driving system and will conduct demonstration runs using semi-trailer automated driving trucks (hereinafter "automated semi-trailers") between logistics hubs in the Kanto and Kansai regions ※1.

In addition to increased cargo capacity compared to conventional van-type trucks, semi-trailers allow for the separation of the tractor (towing vehicle) and the trailer (cargo bed), enabling the trailer alone to be exchanged at logistics hubs. This separates the loading and unloading of cargo from driving time, which is expected to improve tractor utilization and overall logistics operation efficiency. However, automated driving of semi-trailers has faced high technical hurdles due to the complexity of steering resulting from the vehicle's total length and articulated structure, as well as stable control during lane changes.

By leveraging our proprietary AI algorithms and technology, we successfully completed demonstration runs of automated semi-trailers between the Kanto and Chubu regions in last year's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism subsidy project. This year, we aim for demonstration runs under conditions closer to actual operation, including an expanded driving range and carrying cargo during driving.

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

Demonstration Vehicle Used in Last Year's Subsidy Project by the Toyota Tsusho Consortium

Consortium Participating Companies

Company Name

Main Role

Toyota Tsusho Corporation

Project promotion, overall plan management

Otsuka Warehouse Co., Ltd.

Consideration for realizing a useful business model

Konoike Transport Co., Ltd.

Consideration for realizing a useful business model

Sagawa Express Co., Ltd.

Consideration for realizing a useful business model

Shibusawa Warehouse Co., Ltd.

Consideration for realizing a useful business model

Suzuyo Co., Ltd.

Consideration for realizing a useful business model

Seino Transportation Co., Ltd.

Consideration for realizing a useful business model

Fukuyama Transporting Co., Ltd.

Consideration for realizing a useful business model

Hino Motors, Ltd.

Technical support for automated vehicle development

Advanced Mobility Co., Ltd.

Automated vehicle construction, demonstration operation

RoboTruck Inc.

Automated vehicle construction, demonstration operation

Comment from Yusuke Haga, CEO of RoboTruck

Our company is a "systems company" that provides automated driving systems with the premise that logistics operators will be the primary users and operators, rather than manufacturing trucks or handling logistics operations. We are focused on "realizing Level 4 automated driving technology as soon as possible," which is the government's goal.

Compared to last year's subsidy project, more logistics companies are participating in the consortium, and I feel the expectation for the early social implementation of automated driving technology to solve the labor shortage in the logistics industry growing stronger year by year. Furthermore, this year we will receive technical support from Hino Motors, accelerating development and demonstration that balances development speed with safety.

We will continue to move forward so that the logistics operators we are working with, and logistics operators across Japan, can feel that "the social implementation of driverless trucks is near."

RoboTruck Overview

Company Name: RoboTruck Inc.

Location: Kodenaka Building, 1-15-11 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Representative: CEO Yusuke Haga

Established: April 2024

Business Activities: Research and development of automated driving systems for trucks

Official Website: https://robotruck.jp/company.html

Contact for Inquiries:

RoboTruck Inc. Business Development & Public Relations

E-mail: info@robotruck.jp