Toyota Launches First Autonomous Driving Service on Public Roads in Japan

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Toyota Motor Corporation will launch autonomous vehicle services on public roads in Japan for the first time this summer.

According to foreign media on the 11th, Toyota will initially start free rides this summer in Odaiba, Tokyo, and plans to expand the driving area to central Tokyo for paid services from next year onward.

The autonomous driving service is provided by Monet Technologies, a joint venture funded by Toyota and SoftBank, among others. The vehicle is developed based on Toyota's minivan Sienna and utilizes the autonomous driving system from the American company May Mobility.

Toyota vehicles will be equipped with Level 4 autonomous driving technology. Level 4 autonomy means the vehicle independently perceives, judges, and controls driving situations. Sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) monitor the road and surrounding conditions to predict potential hazards.

Although no human intervention is required for driving, it is reported that a driver will be onboard initially for safety during the early stages of the service.

In Japan, besides Toyota, Honda will also start autonomous taxi services in Tokyo from January 2026 in collaboration with the American company General Motors (GM).

Honda also plans to operate Level 4 autonomous taxis.

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