TIER IV Completes Robotaxi Pilot Tests in Tokyo

Feb 18, 2025
TIER IV has successfully completed pilot tests for its robotaxi service in Tokyo, as announced in a press release. The tests were conducted in Odaiba and Nishi-Shinjuku, demonstrating the adaptability of their autonomous driving system.
TIER IV Completes Robotaxi Pilot Tests in Tokyo

TIER IV has successfully completed pilot tests for its robotaxi service in Tokyo, announced in a press release. The tests, part of a phased approach to commercialization, took place in Odaiba in November 2024 and in Nishi-Shinjuku in December 2024.

The pilot tests involved JPN TAXI vehicles equipped with TIER IV's autonomous driving system, navigating through approximately 500 complex scenarios. These included executing turns at intersections and avoiding parked vehicles. A safety-first approach allowed operators to switch to manual control when necessary. The tests confirmed the adaptability of operational design domains (ODDs) in dense traffic conditions and identified technical challenges for broader deployment.

In Odaiba, passengers used voice commands to set destinations, with each ride averaging 3 km and a total driving distance of 354 km. In Nishi-Shinjuku, passengers used a ride-hailing app to select from seven destinations, with rides averaging 3 km and a total distance of 622 km. TIER IV engaged with local stakeholders to discuss scaling operations in the area.

Moving forward, TIER IV plans to integrate findings from these tests into a reference design for robotaxis, aiming to facilitate the launch of operations within three months in target regions by 2027.

We hope you enjoyed this article

Consider subscribing to one of our newsletters like AI Policy Brief, Robotics Brief or Daily AI Brief.

Also, consider following us on social media:

AI Safety & Regulation AI & Robotics AI Brief AI Brief (X)
Free newsletter

AI Policy Brief

Weekly report on AI regulations, safety standards, government policies, and compliance requirements worldwide.

Guide
Private AI chip companies, by latest reported valuation

Private AI chip companies, by latest reported valuation

Private companies building AI compute silicon (the chips that run AI workloads), shown with each company's most recent reported or disclosed valuation. The figures are measured on different dates and bases, so this is a snapshot, not a live ranking or a like-for-like comparison.

Industry analysis

2025 Global Business Services Agenda: Gen AI Takes Center Stage

The Hackett Group

This industry analysis by The Hackett Group explores the transformative impact of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) on global business services (GBS) in 2025. The study highlights the shift from exploration to acceleration of Gen AI initiatives, with 89% of executives advancing these projects to improve customer satisfaction, innovate products, and reduce costs. The report also discusses the challenges and strategies for successful Gen AI adoption, emphasizing the need for a technology-enabled operating model and the importance of reskilling the workforce.

Read more

You may also like

Free, six days a week

Daily AI Brief: the AI news that matters, in your inbox.