NTT Mobility Autonomous Driving Tests Begin in Toyota City

NTT Mobility Begins Autonomous Driving Field Tests

NTT Mobility will begin field tests for autonomous driving on September 14 in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, covering urban, hilly and mountainous, and suburban traffic environments. The Tokyo-based company will use Toyota Sienna and Toyota e-Palette vehicles equipped with an autonomous driving system developed by its partner, May Mobility, Inc. The initiative is intended to build operational know-how and validate operating models that can support the future deployment of Level-4 autonomous driving services. By testing multiple vehicles across different routes, NTT Mobility plans to examine how autonomous operations can be adapted to varying road conditions and user needs.

Testing Across Three Distinct Traffic Environments

The field tests are designed around three distinct route environments: urban roads, hilly and mountainous areas, and suburban roads. This multi-environment approach allows NTT Mobility to evaluate operations under conditions that can differ substantially in traffic patterns, road characteristics, and expected user requirements. The company will tailor its operating approach to the conditions of each area while using multiple vehicles equipped with May Mobility’s autonomous driving system. The testing therefore focuses not only on vehicle technology, but also on the operational requirements needed to deliver autonomous driving services in real-world settings.

Public-Road Testing Will Operate at Level 2

During the field tests, the vehicles will operate on public roads at Level 2, using advanced driver-assistance systems with a driver on board. This arrangement will allow Japan-based operations to be evaluated in actual traffic while maintaining a driver presence. NTT Mobility will assess the effectiveness of the autonomous driving technology and identify operational challenges that could affect future service deployment. The results are expected to provide practical information on how autonomous driving systems perform across different environments and what operational adjustments may be required as the company works toward future Level-4 service models.

Toyota Sienna and Toyota e-Palette Support Evaluation

The use of Toyota Sienna and Toyota e-Palette vehicles gives the project two vehicle platforms for testing the autonomous driving system supplied by May Mobility. Rather than limiting the evaluation to a single route or operating condition, NTT Mobility is using the vehicles across three environments to accumulate experience with different traffic and road situations. The company’s stated objective is to turn that experience into operational know-how and validated models for real-world autonomous driving services. The field tests therefore serve as a practical step toward understanding the requirements for broader autonomous service operations.

Preparing for Future Level-4 Autonomous Operations

The September 14 start date marks the beginning of a field-testing program focused on translating autonomous driving technology into workable service operations. The combination of public-road Level 2 testing, a driver on board, multiple vehicle types, and three route environments gives NTT Mobility an opportunity to identify issues before pursuing future Level-4 operations. The emphasis on tailoring operations to local driving conditions and user needs is also important because service requirements can vary between urban, mountainous, and suburban environments. The resulting operational experience could help shape how autonomous driving services are structured for different areas.

Industry Impact & Outlook

NTT Mobility’s multi-environment testing highlights the operational complexity of deploying autonomous driving beyond controlled or uniform road conditions. Evaluating urban, hilly and mountainous, and suburban routes can provide practical evidence on how service models need to account for different traffic environments and user requirements. For the autonomous driving sector, the project also underscores the importance of combining vehicle technology with operating procedures before moving toward higher levels of automation. The findings could influence NTT Mobility’s future service planning by identifying operational challenges that must be addressed as it considers Level-4 deployment in real-world environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NTT Mobility testing in Toyota City?
NTT Mobility is testing autonomous driving operations across urban, hilly and mountainous, and suburban routes in Toyota City using vehicles equipped with May Mobility’s system. The public-road trials will operate at Level 2 with a driver on board, allowing the company to evaluate technology performance and identify operational challenges. The program uses Toyota Sienna and Toyota e-Palette vehicles and is intended to build operational know-how for future Level-4 autonomous driving services. Its findings will help NTT Mobility validate operating models suited to different road conditions and user needs.