Engineering with purpose: An inside look at vehicle development
Akinari Yamashita | Vehicle Development
TIER IV People shines a light on the individuals and teams whose unique experiences, backgrounds and stories bring our mission to life. In this installment, we speak with Akinari Yamashita, a project manager leading the development of electric vehicles. He shares his thoughts on the company, his role and what fuels his efforts to make autonomous driving a part of everyday life.
— Can you tell us about your background?
I studied electrical and electronic engineering at university and graduate school, focusing primarily on electric components used in EVs, such as motors and inverters. My research centered on inverters from an electromagnetics perspective, and I also worked on the development of motor cores.
After graduation, I joined an OEM in the commercial vehicle sector and was assigned to the team developing EVs. I worked on software development for the vehicle control unit and was involved from the very beginning of the project all the way through to completion.
— What sparked your interest in electric vehicles?
I’ve always liked cars, but I wouldn’t call myself an enthusiast, not compared to the real aficionados in this industry. I majored in electrical and electronic engineering because it’s a broad, versatile field that would allow me to explore a wide range of career paths after graduation.
The Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 was a turning point for me. The disaster sparked a desire to do work that genuinely helps people. I realized that I could put my knowledge and experience in electronics and electrical engineering to use in the EV sector, which has the potential to bring about real change in society.
— How did you first learn about TIER IV?
After the stint at the OEM, I moved to an automotive parts supplier specializing in electrification, autonomous driving, and connectivity. It was during that time that a recruiter reached out to me and introduced me to TIER IV.
At first, I wasn’t actively looking to change jobs. But that initial encounter piqued my interest in the autonomous driving industry. What attracted me to TIER IV was how closely the company’s mission aligned with my wish to do work that makes a real impact on society. Another thing that appealed was the approach to projects that I’d experienced at the OEM, where you’re involved from start to finish and take full responsibility for the outcome.
After that initial introduction, a different recruiter approached me about a role at TIER IV, and that time I ended up having an interview.
— What is your role at TIER IV?
I have two main responsibilities. The first is serving as a project manager for vehicle development. This involves everything from identifying technical challenges and requirements to creating development plans and coordinating with suppliers, vendors, and internal teams.
The second role is acting as a first-line filter when issues arise during the development process. I quickly assess the situation and identify the root cause. While the actual resolution is handled by specialized teams, I work closely with them by clearly communicating the issue and supporting the troubleshooting process.
Vehicle development is not something TIER IV can accomplish alone. It’s a collaborative process that brings together the expertise of various suppliers and vendors. By combining that know-how to tackle challenges together, we’re able to develop vehicles capable of meeting the high bar for autonomous driving. One of the results of this collaboration is fanfare, a white-label EV solution that launched in June.
— Could you tell us a bit more about fanfare?
TIER IV is developing, producing, and selling a lineup of electric vehicles compatible with Level 4 autonomous driving. TIER IV’s mission is to make autonomous driving accessible to all, and fanfare is a new solution designed to accelerate the rollout of the technology.
Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving software championed by TIER IV, is also part of that mission. The company provides reference hardware such as ECUs, cameras, and LiDAR that meet Autoware’s requirements.
Through fanfare, we source vehicles from various OEMs and upgrade them to support Level 4 autonomous driving. These are then offered to customers as white-label EVs. At the same time, we’re releasing the designs as open specifications – outlined in L4 Custom Design Guidelines – which enables third-party manufacturers to mass-produce EVs that meet the same standards, fostering an ecosystem of innovation.
— What are some goals you’re currently working toward?
Right now, my main goal is to steadily grow the fanfare project and to promote the widespread adoption of autonomous driving, not just in Japan but globally. Many people still think autonomous driving is in the experimental phase. Through fanfare, I want to get more vehicles on the road and help establish autonomous driving as a core part of our transportation infrastructure.
To achieve this, we need more team members. Two priority roles are vehicle systems engineer and vehicle control software engineer. What we value most is a collaborative mindset – a willingness to work with internal teams and external stakeholders to solve complex challenges. We’re looking for people who can take initiative when facing a problem, or when they see others struggling, those who can step up with ideas and take action.
That said, even if you’re not the finished article yet, there is a lot of expertise at TIER IV, and as a company, we’re committed to providing the support team members need. If you share our mission of making a contribution to society through autonomous driving and are ready to tackle challenges together, this is the place for you.
— What makes TIER IV an exciting place to work?
Above all, it’s the pace at which things move. The Swiss economist Klaus Schwab once said, “In the new world, it’s not the big fish that eat the small fish, but the fast fish that eat the slow.” TIER IV is without doubt a fast fish. We’re making progress at an exceptional pace. For an engineer, it’s an extremely exciting environment to be in.
— Do you have a message for prospective candidates?
TIER IV is accelerating the development and deployment of safe, intelligent autonomous driving technologies, working closely with a wide range of stakeholders. We hope you’ll continue to follow and support our journey as we expand our efforts in this exciting field. If you’re interested in shaping the future of mobility with us, we’d love to hear from you.
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TIER IV is always on the lookout for passionate individuals to join our journey. If you share our vision of making autonomous driving accessible to all, get in touch.
Visit our careers page to view all job openings.
If you’re uncertain about which roles align best with your experience, or if the current job openings don’t quite match your preferences, register your interest here. We’ll get in touch if a role that matches your experience becomes available and schedule an informal interview.
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