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In three short years, Isuzu wants to have trucks and buses driving themselves on the road.
Autonomous trucks could be hitting the roads as soon as 2027, according to Isuzu's truck division.
A partnership between Isuzu Motors and US vehicle software startup Applied Intuition could result in autonomous trucks on Japanese roads within three years, business newspaper Nikkei Asia reports.
Isuzu President Shinsuke Minami explained the truck brand has not developed its own software, but will instead rely on Applied Intuition to add Level 4 automation to its Giga prime movers.
The manufacturer expects to use the self-driving trucks on fixed routes initially, transporting goods between its warehouses in Japan.
While Level 4 autonomy means the vehicle should be able to navigate most environments from point to point, a supervising driver is still required to oversee its operations so they can intervene if necessary.
"If self-driving becomes widespread in the future, our self-driving business has the potential to grow into a major source of sales," Minami told Nikkei.
Isuzu is also working with a Japanese start-up called Tier IV to add Level 4 autonomous driving technology to its buses, for use at Fukuoka Airport as well as within an area of Greater Tokyo.
Ben Zachariah is an experienced writer and motoring journalist from Melbourne, having worked in the automotive industry for more than two decades. Ben began writing professionally more than 15 years ago and was previously an interstate truck driver. He completed his MBA in Finance in early 2021 and is considered an expert on classic car investment.
