Yamaha Motor Co.’s subsidiary, eve autonomy, Inc., has unveiled a new unmanned transportation vehicle equipped with Level 4 self-driving technology. This advanced technology allows the vehicle to operate autonomously under specific conditions. The demonstration took place at the company’s showroom in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture.
To develop this innovative vehicle, eve autonomy reduced the size of Yamaha Motor’s popular electric golf car. This modification enables the vehicle to navigate confined environments such as factories and warehouses effectively. Despite its smaller size, the vehicle has an impressive carrying capacity of up to 300 kilograms and can tow loads weighing up to 1.5 tons.
One notable feature of this autonomous transportation solution is its user-friendly interface. Users can easily map out the desired route for the vehicle using a tablet device.
The company offers a monthly subscription plan for interested customers, with each vehicle priced at approximately ¥400,000. As labor shortages continue to pose challenges in various industries, including logistics, there is growing anticipation for autonomous transportation solutions like this one. Consequently, market demand for these vehicles is expected to expand significantly.
Ryosuke Hoshino, CEO of eve autonomy expressed his ambitions beyond Japan: “I’d also like to promote this vehicle in countries where labor shortages are becoming increasingly severe—such as the United States—and emerging countries like Thailand. I’m sure it has high growth potential.”
In response to these market trends and demands for autonomous transportation solutions that can alleviate labor shortages and reduce costs, several companies are actively developing similar technologies. For instance, Toyota Industries Corp., All Nippon Airways Co., and Suzuki Motor Corp have all made significant strides in their respective projects related to autonomous transportation.
According to Yano Research Institute’s data analysis report on global markets for autonomous transportation vehicles and similar technologies in 2022 was valued at ¥401.7 billion ($3.6 billion). By 2026 experts predict that this market will more than double in value reaching ¥908.7 billion ($8 billion).
As technological advancements continue driving innovation within various industries worldwide—particularly those grappling with labor shortages—the future looks promising for autonomous transportation solutions.