Electrive writes that Tier IV will contribute to the software-side development of the upcoming autonomous EV, which will support Level 4 autonomy. The rest of the specifications, such as the batteries or the electric motors, are unspecified, as of now.

The vehicle is said to sport four to six seats, besides the driver, which will still be part of the ride in order to monitor the function, despite the fact that Level 4 autonomy means that no human intervention is required on the controls. This depends, however, on certain conditions, such as a predefined route.

The Japanese government is supporting this project, as it wants to ensure autonomous taxis will be driving around 100 municipalities by 2027, since other more established manufacturers, such as Nissan, are also working on their own self-driving electric taxis. As it already launched field tests earlier this year, the Japanese carmaker hopes to offer a service of self-driving EVs for the public by the end of 2028.

JPN Taxi could be the first company in the country to offer autonomous vehicles as a service by this November in Odaiba, Tokyo, while two other neighborhoods, Shinjuku and Minato, could follow suit by the end of 2025.

Photo source: Tier IV