Toyota and Softbank have announced plans to launch a new autonomous mobility service in Tokyo before March 2025. Operating under their joint venture, Monet Technologies, the SAE Level 2 service will run along public roads in the Ariake, Daiba, and Aomi areas of Tokyo.
The new service will initially utilize two Toyota Sienna minivans to carry out its operations across Tokyo Waterfront City, a district the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has designated to encourage the social acceptance of autonomous driving. Each minivan will be able to seat up to five passengers (not including the driver) and travel at speeds of up to 40 km/h (24 mph).
Operating at SAE Level 2 will mean that the vehicles used in the service will autonomously controls steering, acceleration and deceleration, while a human driver monitors these operations in the driver’s seat and can take control of the vehicle, if necessary.
To complement the service, Monet will launch a mobile ride-hailing app designed to help the public reserve rides on-demand. Its future plans for the service include allowing passengers to book rides using other ride-hailing apps, expanding both the service area, scaling up its fleet of AVs, and developing a system to help it monitor this fleet remotely.
Following the launch of its new service, Monet Technologies will continue to collaborate with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and other government agencies to promote the social broader implementation of autonomous driving services.
