Ibaraki, Japan

Robotaxis in Hitachi

Hitachi, Japan: Public rides with a safety operator: Ibaraki Kotsu.

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How to ride here

  • Ibaraki Kotsu Open to the public. A safety operator rides along.

Services

Ibaraki Kotsu robobus

Public rides with a safety operator
  1. Testing
  2. Driverless tests
  3. Staff and invitees
  4. Public, with operator

Open to the public. A safety operator rides along.

Who can ride
Open to the public
App
not published
Partner
RoAD to the L4 Theme 2 consortium (Michinori Holdings, AIST, Advanced Mobility, JARI, Japan Research Institute)
Service area
Hitachi BRT dedicated busway section between Nanbu Toshokan and Kawarago (BRT), part of the 8.7 km Osakana Center - Taga Station route
Area size
6.1 km Level 4 section
Airport
not published
Highways
not published
Fleet (official)
not published
Fares
not published
Public driverless since
not published

History

  1. Public rides with a safety operator - Level 4 (specified automated operation) commercial route bus service starts after Ibaraki Public Safety Commission permit (2024-12-18); company staff still on board. source

Announced next

  • Announcement Route bus operation with no Ibaraki Kotsu staff on board Target: 2026. Announced . source
Sources (1)
  1. Longest-distance and first mid-size bus Level 4 commercial operation in Japan - Ibaraki Kotsu / JARI, 24 Jan 2025

Last checked - last change

Rules in this country

  • Japan - The Road Traffic Act amendment of April 2023 lifted the ban on Level 4 driving on public roads. Operators need vehicle approval with operating-environment conditions from MLIT, a specified automated operation permit from the prefectural Public Safety Commission and a transport business approval. Level 4 services so far are mostly low-speed or bus routes; robotaxi pilots in Tokyo and Yokohama still run at Level 2 with safety drivers.