First in the Chemical Industry: Sumitomo Chemical Group and T2 Begin Commercial Operation Using Autonomous Trucks

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Nobuaki Mito), Sumika Logistics Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Kunihiro Takaki), and T2 Corporation (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Masatomo Kumabe, hereinafter "T2") announced that from April 2026, they will begin commercial operation of chemical products using autonomous trucks on a section of expressways from Kanto to Kansai. This marks the first such initiative in the domestic chemical industry*¹.

In the chemical industry, which provides a wide range of materials from basic chemicals to high-performance materials, truck transport of raw materials and products is extensive. Concerns exist about the impact on the supply chain due to driver shortages. The three companies have been conducting trials*³ since July 2025, transporting multiple chemical products manufactured by the Sumitomo Chemical Group using Level 2*² autonomous trucks developed by T2 for trunk line transportation. After a total of five trials conducted until March 2026 on certain sections of expressways between Kanto and Kansai, it was confirmed that T2's autonomous trucks can ensure transportation quality and safety equivalent to existing operations. As a result, commercial operation will now commence, marking a full-scale utilization of autonomous trucks.

Commercial operations began on April 6, 2026, and will be conducted regularly over a distance of approximately 520 km from Sumitomo Chemical Group's logistics base in Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture, to an intermediate hub in Osaka Prefecture. This route includes a Level 2 autonomous driving section*⁴ of approximately 420 km from Tomei Expressway/Ayase SIC (Kanagawa Prefecture) to Keiji Bypass/Kumiyama JCT (Kyoto Prefecture). Chemical products such as synthetic resins, which are raw materials for plastic products, will be transported. Furthermore, aiming to achieve environmentally conscious transportation, "Renewable Diesel," a next-generation diesel alternative fuel expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by virtually 100%*⁵, will be utilized.

The three companies will continue their efforts toward starting trunk line transportation services using Level 4*⁶ autonomous trucks, which T2 aims to realize in fiscal year 2027, promoting the construction of a sustainable logistics system.

*¹ According to T2 (as of April 2026). As a regular operation of autonomous trucks for domestic chemical manufacturers.
*² Highly automated driving under specific conditions with driver supervision.
*³ Press release regarding this matter: https://t2.auto/news/2025/0508.pdf

*⁴ The driver temporarily operates the vehicle in situations requiring safety assurance or at toll booths.
*⁵ Based on the Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures and the Act on Rationalization of Energy Use and Conversion to Non-Fossil Energy, etc.
*⁶ A state where the automated driving system fully performs all driving operations within a limited operating domain that satisfies specific driving environment conditions.

Company Overview

■Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo Nihonbashi Tower, 2-7-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Nobuaki Mito, Representative Director, President and Executive Officer

Date of Establishment: September 22, 1913

Business Activities: Agro & Life Solutions, ICT & Mobility Solutions, Advanced Medical Solutions, Essential & Green Materials, etc.

Corporate Website: https://www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp/

■Sumika Logistics Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Kayabacho Takaki Building, 1-8 Nihonbashi Koami-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Kunihiro Takaki, Representative Director and President

Date of Establishment: March 15, 1966

Business Activities: Provision of logistics-related services such as procurement, production, sales, reverse logistics centered on chemical products, development and operation of logistics information systems, and logistics diagnostics.

Corporate Website: https://www.sumika-logi.co.jp/

■T2 Corporation
Headquarters: Hibiya Kokusai Building 1F, 2-2-3 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Masatomo Kumabe, Representative Director and CEO

Date of Establishment: August 30, 2022

Business Activities: Development of autonomous driving systems, trunk line transportation service business using Level 4 autonomous trucks, related service businesses incidental to trunk line transportation, and other related service businesses.

Corporate Website: https://t2.auto/

Official X: https://x.com/t2_auto