Quick Takeaways
- NTT is moving Level 4 autonomous driving from pilots to a scalable commercial mobility business.
- The strategy targets over 1,000 autonomous vehicles by the 2030s with a unified, service-led operating model.
On December 17, NTT outlined a long-term mobility roadmap centered on Level 4 autonomous vehicles, reinforcing its ambition to scale fully autonomous driving services into a large commercial business. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, NTT Mobility, the group plans to move beyond pilot projects and establish a repeatable, service-oriented autonomous mobility model tailored to local transportation needs.
NTT Level 4 Autonomous Vehicles: Vision and Scale
NTT Mobility targets the operation of more than 1,000 Level 4 autonomous vehicles during the 2030s, with business revenues expected to reach tens of billions of yen. Level 4 autonomous driving enables vehicles to operate without human intervention under defined conditions, making it suitable for structured urban and regional mobility use cases.
The strategy is designed to consolidate autonomous driving technologies and operational expertise spread across NTT group companies, allowing faster deployment and more consistent service quality across regions.
Focus on Public Transport and Autonomous Taxi Services
The initial rollout of NTT Level 4 autonomous vehicles will prioritize applications where autonomy can deliver immediate social and economic value. These include:
NTT Mobility plans to execute these deployments in close coordination with automakers, autonomous driving system developers, transportation operators, and local governments, ensuring technical readiness and regulatory alignment.
Building a One-Stop Autonomous Mobility Platform
A core pillar of the strategy is the development of an integrated service framework. NTT Mobility aims to provide end-to-end autonomous driving services by combining vehicle operations, system support, and service management into a unified model.
Key elements of this platform include:
The group plans to establish this one-stop autonomous mobility system by the fiscal year starting in April 2027.
Collaboration Across the NTT Group
To meet diverse local requirements, NTT Mobility will work closely with other NTT group companies. This internal collaboration is expected to accelerate service customization, improve operational reliability, and enable faster replication of successful deployment models across cities and regions.
By aligning telecommunications, digital infrastructure, and autonomous driving capabilities, NTT is positioning Level 4 autonomous vehicles as a core component of next-generation mobility services rather than isolated technology demonstrations.
The roadmap highlights how large technology groups are shifting autonomous driving from experimental deployments toward scalable, service-led business models with long-term commercial potential.
NTT Level 4 Autonomous Vehicles: Vision and Scale
NTT Mobility targets the operation of more than 1,000 Level 4 autonomous vehicles during the 2030s, with business revenues expected to reach tens of billions of yen. Level 4 autonomous driving enables vehicles to operate without human intervention under defined conditions, making it suitable for structured urban and regional mobility use cases.
The strategy is designed to consolidate autonomous driving technologies and operational expertise spread across NTT group companies, allowing faster deployment and more consistent service quality across regions.
Focus on Public Transport and Autonomous Taxi Services
The initial rollout of NTT Level 4 autonomous vehicles will prioritize applications where autonomy can deliver immediate social and economic value. These include:
- Autonomous buses for fixed-route public transportation
- Robot taxis for urban and regional mobility services
NTT Mobility plans to execute these deployments in close coordination with automakers, autonomous driving system developers, transportation operators, and local governments, ensuring technical readiness and regulatory alignment.
Building a One-Stop Autonomous Mobility Platform
A core pillar of the strategy is the development of an integrated service framework. NTT Mobility aims to provide end-to-end autonomous driving services by combining vehicle operations, system support, and service management into a unified model.
Key elements of this platform include:
- Common operating support systems shared across regions
- Standardized work processes to improve scalability
- Operational efficiency improvements through digital integration
The group plans to establish this one-stop autonomous mobility system by the fiscal year starting in April 2027.
Collaboration Across the NTT Group
To meet diverse local requirements, NTT Mobility will work closely with other NTT group companies. This internal collaboration is expected to accelerate service customization, improve operational reliability, and enable faster replication of successful deployment models across cities and regions.
By aligning telecommunications, digital infrastructure, and autonomous driving capabilities, NTT is positioning Level 4 autonomous vehicles as a core component of next-generation mobility services rather than isolated technology demonstrations.
The roadmap highlights how large technology groups are shifting autonomous driving from experimental deployments toward scalable, service-led business models with long-term commercial potential.
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