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- Automated Driving Mobility Services Configured with a Level 4 System Start for the First Time in Japan
Automated Driving Mobility Services Configured with a Level 4 System Start for the First Time in Japan
May 22, 2023
As part of the “Project on Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment (RDD&D) of Automated Driving toward Level 4 and its Enhanced Mobility Services” (hereinafter referred to as the “RoAD to L4” project), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) have jointly been advancing a series of validation tests to achieve automated driving mobility services since FY2021. METI hereby announces that on May 21, 2023, automated driving mobility services configured with a Level 4 system started in Eiheji Town, Fukui Prefecture.
1. Overview
METI and MLIT have jointly been advancing the RoAD to L4 project since FY2021, and as part of the project, the ministries have been advancing a series of validation tests to achieve automated driving mobility services. In the validation test conducted in Eiheiji Town, Fukui Prefecture, the vehicle to be used there was approved as automated driving vehicle under the Road Transport Vehicle Act on March 30, 2023. Furthermore, permission for automated driving operation was also granted under the Road Traffic Act on May 11, 2023.
Following this, the final confirmation work was completed and then Machizukuri ZEN Connect Inc., to which the local government of Eiheiji Town, Fukui Prefecture, entrusted the operation of the services, started automated driving mobility services configured with a Level 4 system*1 on May 21, 2023*2.
*Note 1: The term “Level 4” refers to a state in which an automated operation system works as an alternative to the entire driving operation in a limited area that meets specific conditions in a driving environment.
*Note 2: Full-fledged services are scheduled to start on May 28, 2023. For details of the schedule, visit the website of Machizukuri ZEN Connect Inc.
(in Japanese)
2. Ceremony to commemorate the start of the automated driving mobility services configured with a Level 4 system
Against the background mentioned above, on May 21, 2023, a ceremony was held to commemorate the start of the automated driving mobility services configured with a Level 4 system with the attendance of Mr. NISHIMURA Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. TOYODA Toshiro, State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Mr. KAWAI Hisamitsu, Mayor of Eiheji Town.
On the same day, bringing together many people from the press, the first vehicle operated under the automated driving mobility services configured with a Level 4 system departed and residents of the town took a ride as well.
Division in Charge
ITS and Autonomous Driving Promotion Office, Automobile Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau