Japanese company Honda and US group General Motors (GM) on Thursday announced plans to launch a driverless taxi service in Tokyo in 2026, to help overcome the Asian country’s labor shortage.
The project, developed by the two companies in collaboration with self-driving vehicle operator Cruise, will provide “a completely new mobility experience” in Japan, Honda said in a statement.
“It will be a big step towards realizing an advanced mobility society,” said company CEO Toshihiro Mibe.
Honda emphasized that the project aims to “address the social issues facing Japan, such as the lack of taxi and bus drivers.”
The Japanese government is encouraging autonomous vehicle projects at a time when it faces an aging population and a lack of labor.
Source: DN
