Japan's ultimate goal for automated driving is to create a society with zero road fatalities and freedom of mobility. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association has outlined policies aimed at making this a reality.
On September 17, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) held a press conference to provide an update on its seven priority challenges.
This time, the discussion was centered on the fifth challenge, “Creating mobility systems built around integrated automated driving.”
Automated driving is also one of the key technologies identified in the Japanese government’s growth strategy, yet the country tends to be seen as lagging behind other nations. When asked how JAMA envisions Japan’s path to success, Chairman Koji Sato (Toyota) assured the assembled reporters, “We are holding our own technologically.”
Is Japanese technology falling behind?
Chairman Sato
I want to make sure that means are not confused with objectives. While it is certainly important to track the technology’s functional value, as we continue to incorporate technological advances, we are conscious of the kind of society that we ultimately seek to create.
Japan’s road conditions are very distinct from those of other countries. We have high traffic volumes, with pedestrians moving in close proximity to passenger and commercial vehicles, and a safe transport system established through coordination with infrastructure, including traffic lights, highway design, and electronic toll collection (ETC).
It is a uniquely Japanese arrangement, with infrastructure and mobility working in harmony to create a society with safe, advanced transportation.
Within this context, if we look at our current progress toward the future society we envision, I certainly don’t think that our technology is lagging behind. While I understand the various opinions that have been expressed, I firmly believe we are holding our own technologically.
That said, we do perceive challenges in implementing this technology in society. The national government has demonstrated a very clear direction, with the Takaichi administration highlighting automated driving as one of its 17 strategic sectors. With solid backing underpinning investment predictability, we are ready to pursue implementation with even greater energy.
As such, our immediate focus is to speed up the rollout of our technologies in the real world, and in the process raise public awareness. I believe that is the top priority.
While the efforts of individual companies are indispensable, JAMA’s role on behalf of the industry is to foster this fundamental understanding by communicating with Japanese society.
Zero road fatalities and freedom of mobility
JAMA is pursuing a uniquely Japanese approach to automated driving, one that harnesses the technology to achieve both zero road fatalities (ultimately, zero accidents) and freedom of mobility. Realizing this vision requires a society-wide effort, founded on collaboration with national and local governments as well as related organizations.
The association has identified three common challenges:
1. Infrastructure coordination
Coordinating road infrastructure, such as the smart poles presented at the recent Tateshina Meeting, with communication networks and public information. Establishing an information management and control platform to consolidate data from a wide range of sources beyond vehicles will help to create a uniquely safe, secure mobility society in Japan.
2. Establishing a social trust foundation
Fostering societal acceptance of automated driving through public-private commitment to governance, even after the technology is commercially available, including inspections of accidents and incidents, assistance for victims, investigations of causes, ongoing safety improvements, and public accountability. Creating frameworks for continuously updating systems and technologies.
3. Market adoption of technologies
Building confidence and encouraging widespread adoption of automated driving technologies, including through disclosure of independently verified results, systems for assessment, and purchase incentives. Promoting uptake by creating social structures that ensure freedom of mobility, even for those no longer driving.
These challenges have been designated as areas for industry-wide collaboration, leveraging established frameworks to boost international competitiveness.
At the same time, the core improvements in autonomous driving performance powered by the use of artificial intelligence and E2E will remain areas of competition between individual manufacturers. These elements enable vehicles to turn, recognize traffic signals, and perform other actions with autonomy, even in complex road environments also used by motorcycles, bicycles, and other vehicles. Fierce rivalry in the development of these technologies will only speed up the market rollout.
As part of recent efforts, JAMA is establishing a new Automated Driving Project Team overseen directly by its Board of Directors. The association also announced how it plans to pursue its goals in collaboration with relevant government agencies and organizations, including a dedicated team set up within the nonprofit ITS Japan* to coordinate activities.
*ITS Japan: a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the development, proliferation, and practical application of intelligent transport systems (ITS). With members including companies and groups from the automotive, electronics, telecommunications, and road infrastructure sectors, ITS Japan is engaged in policy advocacy, standardization, and international collaboration through partnerships between industry, government, and academia. Next-Generation Mobility Committee Chairman Yamamoto serves as the organization’s chairperson.
Accelerating industry-wide efforts
Chairman Sato also emphasized that JAMA intends to speed up the pace of implementation.
Chairman Sato
Since around 2018, during the tenure of then-JAMA Chairman Akio Toyoda, we have continued discussions on the future direction of automated driving in Japan. Focused on the two key objectives of “zero road fatalities” and “freedom of mobility,” we have established a roadmap aimed at creating a harmonious mobility-based society through coordination with infrastructure.
What I would particularly like to emphasize is the need to increase the pace of our efforts in this regard. As we promote real-world implementation, we must continue to enhance the capabilities of autonomous driving technologies. This is an area where each company can leverage its own technological strengths while, at the same time, accelerating progress across the industry as a whole.
Looking further ahead, we must consider how to build a social system that can ensure both safety and freedom of mobility through automated driving. The roadmap we have developed incorporates initiatives that include collaboration with infrastructure.
Vice Chairman Ivan Espinosa (Nissan) believes cooperation between manufacturers is possible.
Vice Chairman Espinosa
One of the advantages that we have, as Japanese industry, is the fact that we are coordinating our efforts a lot. We have a common vision that is shared among all the members, which is zero fatalities and freedom of mobility.
And one of the unique strengths that we have is the advanced collaboration work that we are doing, developing things that will enable safer technology deployment, such as infrastructure deployment, how vehicles communicate between each other, and with the infrastructure in cities.
With these advancements, we firmly believe that we will have a competitive edge as Japanese OEMs in this field.
Vice Chairman Toshihiro Mibe (Honda) noted the differences between individual companies in aspects such as communication frequencies, yet spoke of the need to overcome such hurdles and work toward an international standard.
Vice Chairman Mibe
I feel that bringing together the differing approaches of our individual companies is a crucially important task, and something we must do. Through collaboration, we will aim to create world-class automated driving systems and infrastructure.
Ultimately, I envision these systems being woven into the foundations of our society and transportation, going beyond the existing category of “automobiles” to become part of the social infrastructure.
Vice Chairman Mibe also commented on Japan’s progress in automated driving.
“Although automated driving is making some headway in countries including the United States and China, in a real sense it has not yet been fully embraced by society or established as a feasible business.” While promoting collaboration in Japan, he added, “We are aiming to develop this into a commercially and socially viable business by around 2030.”
Starting with the regions that need it most
As for the areas where automated driving will be rolled out, Safety Technology & Policy Committee Vice Chairman Akihiro Sarada (Toyota) gave the following response:
Safety Technology & Policy Committee Vice Chairman Sarada
Our approach has been to start with areas where customers and residents require assistance.
To carry this out, we need to obtain a wide variety of data. By involving communities in the process, we are able to collect more accurate data and effectively address their concerns.
In doing so, we also want to foster a shared enthusiasm for shaping the future of transportation in our society.
Using AI and ensuring safety
There were also questions related to AI, an essential part of automated driving development.
How does JAMA view the debate that has erupted in the U.S., sparked by fears of runaway AI, over whether development should be restricted or encouraged? And will the backlash impact the association’s roadmap for an automated driving society?
Chairman Sato responded to these questions by stating, “We need to go further in considering how to advance AI specifically for automobiles and mobility.” Next-Generation Mobility Committee Chairman Keiji Yamamoto (Toyota) added the following remarks:
Next-Generation Mobility Committee Chairman Yamamoto
I think the question of how the auto industry should engage with AI can be addressed from various perspectives. One is to use AI as a powerful tool to boost vehicle performance.
However, the rise of frontier models* has greatly increased the threats posed by AI. At JAMA, we have begun discussing how to defend against such attacks, and how to build systems to prevent vehicles from being hacked.
*General-purpose AI that possesses the most advanced capabilities among current models, believed to hold the potential to significantly impact society.
Another issue is strengthening software confidentiality during the development process. Analyzing software with advanced AI carries the risk of exposing a vehicle’s vulnerabilities.
At JAMA, we have begun discussing how the automotive industry should prepare itself for these potential harms from frontier AI models.
The pursuit of a uniquely Japanese form of automated driving is just one part of JAMA’s efforts, as the association continues to tackle its seven priority challenges.