Macnica Tests Autonomous EV Bus in Shiga Driving Project

Macnica Expands Autonomous Driving Tests in Hikone

Macnica Inc will participate in the FY2026 Shiga Smart Access Autonomous Driving Challenge Project, conducting an Macnica autonomous EV bus demonstration in Hikone City. The demonstration will run for 32 days from October 12 through November 15. The company also carried out a demonstration for the project during the previous fiscal year, while the 2026 program will evaluate a system incorporating several technical improvements. These include traffic signal coordination at selected intersections and automated maneuvering around vehicles parked along the street, expanding the conditions under which the autonomous electric bus will be evaluated.

New System Adds Parked-Vehicle Maneuvering

The latest demonstration will focus on the vehicle's ability to identify obstacles, including on-street parked cars, and navigate around them safely. This capability is intended to address situations that can complicate autonomous operation on urban roads, where stationary vehicles may partially obstruct the planned route. The demonstration will therefore provide an opportunity to evaluate how the improved autonomous driving system responds to these obstacles in an operating environment. The parked-vehicle maneuvering function represents one of the key technical enhancements being assessed during the 2026 project and builds on the demonstration work conducted during the previous fiscal year.

Traffic Signal Data Enables Automated Intersection Control

At selected intersections along the demonstration route, the autonomous bus will use a system that provides traffic signal data to the vehicle. This information will allow the system to automatically control the vehicle when approaching intersections, including determining whether to proceed through or stop at the signal. The approach adds traffic signal information to the vehicle's operating inputs and is intended to support more controlled autonomous movement through intersections. By testing the function as part of the demonstration route, Macnica Inc can evaluate its performance alongside the other technical improvements introduced for the FY2026 project.

Shiga Builds on Earlier Autonomous Bus Demonstrations

Shiga Prefecture has been pursuing the practical implementation of autonomous driving around the area surrounding Hikone Castle. Its efforts included a study conducted in FY2024 followed by a demonstration run of an autonomous EV bus in FY2025. The FY2026 project continues this progression by evaluating additional technical capabilities in an autonomous electric bus. The latest testing is designed to verify practical functions under route conditions that include obstacles and signal-controlled intersections. This staged approach allows the autonomous driving system to be evaluated through successive demonstration projects while focusing on capabilities needed for practical operation in the area.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The Hikone demonstration highlights the importance of validating autonomous driving functions under realistic urban operating conditions rather than evaluating vehicle control in isolation. For autonomous bus developers and local authorities, capabilities such as parked-vehicle avoidance and traffic signal coordination can directly affect how vehicles operate on established public-road routes. The continued demonstrations by Macnica Inc and Shiga Prefecture also show how technical improvements can be evaluated progressively through regional projects. The FY2026 results could provide further practical evidence for assessing autonomous EV bus operation and the requirements for broader implementation in similar urban environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will Macnica test during the Shiga autonomous driving project?
Macnica will test an autonomous electric bus in Hikone City for 32 days, evaluating improved systems for urban driving conditions during the FY2026 project. The demonstration will assess the vehicle's ability to detect and navigate around on-street parked vehicles while also using traffic signal data at selected intersections. The signal coordination system will support automated decisions to proceed through or stop at intersections. The project builds on earlier autonomous driving studies and demonstrations conducted by Shiga Prefecture around the Hikone Castle area and continues the evaluation of technologies for practical autonomous operation.