A test run of a self-driving truck has started on an expressway near Tokyo. A legal revision that took effect this month allows the operation of autonomous vehicles under certain conditions.

The trial project is being carried out by T2, a company developing technology for self-driving trucks.

The vehicle was on autonomous control in Wednesday’s test run, although a driver still sat behind the wheel.
The company aims to begin self-driving transport services between Tokyo and Osaka in fiscal 2025.

T2 CEO Shimomura Masaki says, “The transport industry is facing a worker shortage, but logistics are getting more complex. We hope this technology can help solve these problems.”

The Japanese government is planning to set up lanes for driverless vehicles along some expressway sections in central Japan next fiscal year.