Regarding conclusion of “Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement on Regional Revitalization through autonomous driving” in Ishigaki City

Ishigaki City (Mayor: Nakayama Yoshitaka), Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation (Representative Director and President: Moribayashi Masaaki, hereinafter referred to as "NTT West"), Macnica (Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Hara), and Azuma Transportation Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Matsubara Eimatsu) concluded a "Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement on Regional Revitalization through autonomous driving" (hereinafter referred to as the "Collaboration Agreement") in Ishigaki City on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
Through this collaboration agreement, the four parties will promote efforts to resolve local issues in Ishigaki City, such as "maintaining sustainable local transportation for local residents" and "expanding secondary transportation for tourists."

1. Purpose of cooperation agreement
Due to labor shortages due to the declining birthrate and aging population, as well as the 2024 problem, social issues related to maintaining local transportation and the shortage of transportation drivers are becoming more serious. As a solution to these social issues, there is an urgent need to realize sustainable public transportation and logistics that utilize mobility technologies such as autonomous driving.

In addition, the social situation surrounding Ishigaki City is changing, including future population decline, declining birthrate and aging population, and an increase in the number of tourists, including an increase in the number of cruise ships calling at Minanuhama. In order to revitalize the area, the main issues are ``maintaining sustainable means of local transportation for local residents'' and ``expanding secondary means of transportation for tourists.''

In response to these regional issues, the four parties will build a comprehensive partnership and cooperative relationship in the field of autonomous driving, and by linking their respective human and material resources, they will be able to appropriately respond to regional issues and work together. By promoting our business in this area, we aim to form and develop a vibrant local community and improve citizen services.

2. Overview of cooperation agreement
In order to socially implement autonomous driving services that will contribute to solving regional issues in Ishigaki City, the four parties are collaborating to apply for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "Regional Transportation Securing, Maintenance and Improvement Project" (hereinafter referred to as the "Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Project") in 2024. In addition to proceeding with preparations, we will also consider the planning and operation of an autonomous driving business over the medium to long term.

3. Division of roles
Ishigaki City: Operation of autonomous driving business in the future, application to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism business,
Providing driving routes, parking areas, charging areas, etc.
NTT West: Provision and maintenance of autonomous driving related solutions and networks
Support for training remote monitors and operators, etc.
Macnica.: Provision of autonomous driving buses and remote monitoring systems;
Engineering and support for autonomous driving EV buses, etc.
Toyu Co., Ltd.: Provision of human resources for autonomous driving remote monitors and operation operators, etc.

4. the next deployment
We aim to realize a safe and comfortable autonomous driving service that local residents and tourists in Ishigaki City can use with peace of mind.
In addition, the four parties are collaborating on this initiative and plan to submit an application to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2024.

*The information contained in the news release is current at the time of announcement. Please be aware that the information at this time may differ from the information at the time of the announcement.