TuSimple's Autonomous Trucks Commence Level 4 Testing on Expressway in Japan

TuSimple Holdings, Inc., a global autonomous driving technology company, has begun Level 4 autonomous test runs on the expressway in Japan that connects the major cities of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. In 2021, TuSimple Japan, a subsidiary of TuSimple, completed a series of safety validation and testing work of its autonomous driving system with a local Japanese OEM's truck. 

The Japanese government is reportedly planning to launch a self-driving lane on some sections of the New Tomei Expressway by 2024 and will allow commercial operation of SAE Level 4 fully autonomous trucks in 2026.

TuSimple is developing a commercial-ready, fully autonomous (SAE Level 4) driving solution for long-haul heavy-duty trucks.

As of March 2023, TuSimple trucks have recorded more than 10 million cumulative miles through testing, research, and freight delivery.

In December 2021, TuSimple executed the world's first fully autonomous semi-truck run on public roads in Arizona, USA without any human intervention.

Cheng Lu, President and CEO at TuSimple, says: "Self-driving technology is a promising solution to the driver shortage issue that Japan's logistics industry faces. We aim to actively build business partnerships with local companies and develop the technology that will meet local customer demand. We are dedicated to providing the most reliable, safe and efficient autonomous truck solutions for the long-haul transportation industry."

Founded in 2015, TuSimple is a global autonomous driving technology company headquartered in San Diego, California, with operations in the US and Asia.