TOKYO – Kajima Corporation, a major construction company, has announced the launch of a self-driving bus service starting in August. The bus will operate within a business complex near Haneda Airport and is a collaboration between Kajima and several other companies, including SoftBank subsidiary Boldly Inc.
The self-driving bus will travel at speeds of up to 12 km/h along an 800-meter loop within the Haneda Innovation City complex located in Ota Ward, Tokyo. During this trial period, an employee will be on board the bus, which has a capacity of 11 passengers, to manually operate the bus if necessary. The bus’s operations will be monitored remotely from a base in Ibaraki Prefecture.
This initiative comes at a time when bus companies across Japan are grappling with a severe driver shortage. The knowledge and expertise gained from this trial are expected to pave the way for broader applications of self-driving technology in public transportation. Kajima and Boldly also plan to establish a future service connecting the complex directly to Haneda Airport, further enhancing the area’s connectivity and transportation efficiency.