An initiative supported by Macnica to socially implement autonomous driving buses in Sakai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, won the 1st 2021 Car, Society, and Partnership Award.

The 2021 Car/Society/Partnership Awards are a token of appreciation for the contributions that the 5.5 million people working in the automobile industry and all those involved in automobiles, including automobile users, have made to Japanese society and the automobile industry. In September 2021, the Japan Automobile Chamber of Japan hosted a daily publication in order to help expand similar efforts by conveying this, attracting attention again to the efforts of each contribution, and expanding recognition. It was co-sponsored by Jidosha Shimbunsha.

And this time, out of 75 applications from all over the country, Sakai-machi, Ibaraki Prefecture, "Activities toward the social implementation of Japan's first autonomous driving bus in a blank area of public transportation, which was accomplished by local residents" was selected as the grand prize. I was.

In Sakai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, three self-autonomous driving buses "NAVYA ARMA" were introduced from November 2020, and as a daily route bus that connects the town hall, schools, supermarkets and other facilities in the town We are starting to operate. This is the first time that a local government in Japan has put autonomous driving buses into practical use on public roads.

Macnica, as the exclusive domestic agent for French NAVYA products, provided three NAVYA ARMA units to Sakai-cho. In addition, based on our knowledge of autonomous driving technology, we provide full support for the safe and stable operation of autonomous driving buses in Sakai Town, focusing on technical aspects, such as providing vehicle and system maintenance as a technical Services & Solutions provider. Masu.

The award was decided through a rigorous deliberation by a selection committee of experts. Chairman Kamata (Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo) commented on the initiative of autonomous driving, Ibaraki Prefecture, which won the grand prize, saying, I think it's worthy of the grand prize because the entire town is trying to get the excitement going.More than anything else, the fact that we were able to build a situation where the entire town uses and supports mobility is very encouraging when thinking about the future of mobility. It is hoped that moving through mobility, which will increase contact between people and increase smiles, will bring people's minds, which have become a little depressed due to the corona crisis, to a brighter direction. It is a thing.”

In response to the award, Mayor Hashimoto of Sakai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, said, "I would like to express my gratitude for the evaluation of the initiative with the residents of Sakai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture for public transportation using autonomous driving cars. As a means of doing so, we became the first local government in Japan to decide to operate autonomous driving cars at all times.We hope that Sakaimachi's efforts will help solve public transportation issues throughout the country." announced.

Macnica will continue to fully support Sakai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture's efforts to implement autonomous driving buses in society, ensuring safe and stable operation, and will also work hard to help other municipalities and other organizations resolve issues related to the practical application of autonomous driving and MaaS.