The Aichi Prefectural Government is stepping up demonstration tests aimed at launching Japan¡¯s first commercially operated autonomous bus service on an expressway.

In fiscal 2025, which ended in March, the prefecture repeatedly carried out Level 2 trial runs, in which a driver remains on board and handles some operations manually. The tests helped identify a number of challenges.

Aichi aims to secure approval for the practical deployment of Level 4 autonomous driving in fiscal 2027. Under Level 4 autonomy, a vehicle can operate without a driver under specific conditions.