How will Japan's mobility industry transform with the rise of autonomous vehicles?
TIER IV’s Chief Strategy Officer Ko Miyoshi recently participated in the Global Startup Program at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024, a monthlong technology showcase organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that brought together investors, corporations and student entrepreneurs from around the world. In a panel session on innovation in Japan's mobility sector, Ko shed light on TIER IV’s pivotal role in revolutionizing autonomous driving technology, both domestically and internationally. Following are edited excerpts of his remarks.
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TIER IV is a deep tech startup developing autonomous driving solutions. Established in 2015, the company has grown to about 300 employees, with offices in Tokyo, Palo Alto, and a small team in China. We believe that autonomous driving solutions developed with open-source principles can address key challenges in the mobility sector. Recognizing the value of inclusivity and collaboration, our vision is to make autonomous driving technology accessible to all, from individuals to large corporations.
Unlocking access
To achieve this goal, TIER IV pioneered the development of Autoware, the world's first open-source software for autonomous driving. Thought to be deployed in over 30 vehicle models across more than 20 countries, the software is being harnessed by about 500 companies to make autonomous driving a reality. We transferred ownership of the software to the non-profit Autoware Foundation, so it is truly part of the open-source community. Anyone can access GitHub and use it today – it's completely free of charge.
As a for-profit company, TIER IV leverages open-source software to develop commercial applications. We're kind of like what Red Hat is to Linux, but in the autonomous driving field. Our key products include the scalable autonomous driving software platform Pilot.Auto, the cloud-based DevOps platform Web.Auto, and the reference platform Edge.Auto, which combines sensors, computers, and software tools. We’ve developed a range of autonomous driving solutions with these products at the core, including buses and taxis. Over the past year, we've conducted multiple proof-of-concept tests and participated in commercial deployments in more than 30 locations in Japan and overseas, working with ecosystem partners to further develop our technology and expand our business globally.
Transportation challenges
The transportation and logistics sectors in Japan are facing a significant decline in the number of drivers due to an aging and shrinking population. The problem of driver shortages is real. It's not coming in the next few years: It's already here. Suburban and rural areas are particularly affected. In response, the government and municipalities are actively pursuing autonomous driving solutions to address this labor gap.
Japan is a world leader when it comes to infrastructure and regulations for autonomous driving on public roads. With the country facing such critical labor issues in the public transportation sector, regulations for Level 4 autonomous driving on public roads are in place.
The government has launched an initiative called “RoAD to the L4” to accelerate the deployment of autonomous buses. The goal is to establish Level 4 autonomous driving services across Japan, in 50 locations by 2025 and over 100 locations by 2027. Many companies, including TIER IV, are helping to reach that target.
Open ecosystem
Alphabet's Waymo unit operates robotaxis in San Francisco and other cities in the US, and similar services have also been rolled out in China. However, the impetus in the US and China differs from the situation in Japan. In the US and China, the driving force is primarily focused on free market principles and enhancing user experience with innovative technologies. Consequently, the motivation behind regulations in these countries is distinct from Japan.
In contrast, Japan's approach is shaped by the critical issue of driver shortages. To address this, the central government is establishing nationwide regulations that can be uniformly applied. Japan has a certification system for autonomous driving under specific conditions, such as operations at designated times or in particular areas.
Given the extreme difficulty for a single company to adapt to the diverse regulations of each country, state, or region, we have established an open ecosystem overseen by the Autoware Foundation. This ecosystem includes over 70 industry members from around the world, featuring leading companies such as Arm for edge computing and AWS for cloud services, as well as established automotive companies and new entrants.
Other players in the field are adopting more of a closed ecosystem approach, handling everything by themselves, resulting in systems optimized for specific vehicles or environments. By participating in an open ecosystem, we can apply our technology to a wide range of vehicles and environments simultaneously.
Societal impact
The primary societal benefit of autonomous driving lies in its potential to enhance safety and reduce the number of accidents. The technology also holds the promise of alleviating traffic congestion. Human interactions, particularly unnecessary braking, often contribute to traffic jams. As the adoption of autonomous vehicles on public roads becomes widespread, smoother navigation devoid of unnecessary braking could significantly mitigate traffic congestion, particularly on highways. Fewer traffic jams would be much better for society from an environmental standpoint, too.
From a business perspective, workers will be able to use their time more efficiently. I’m interested in the prospect of autonomous driving enhancing the value of time for people, potentially resulting in an overall increase in societal well-being and happiness. When there are more autonomous driving solutions on the market, people will have the option to commute to work in an autonomous bus or taxi, or even a next-generation vehicle with enough private space to hold meetings during commutes. The possibilities are boundless.
Autonomous driving will address many of the problems facing the mobility sector. We want to take the lead not only in Japan but globally. As active participants in the open-source community, we always welcome opportunities for collaboration. If you’re interested in joining us on this journey toward a safer, more efficient, and sustainable future of transportation, get in touch.
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Ko Miyoshi | Chief Strategy Officer
Ko Joined TIER IV in July 2020 and currently oversees corporate strategy and business development. Previously, he led the business development of metro projects at Mitsubishi Corporation. He also held roles at an investment firm, handling M&A execution and post-merger integration projects.
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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.
We’re currently hiring for the following related positions:
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