Launch of "Research project for demonstration and implementation of autonomous driving in Ishigaki City"

Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture (Mayor: Nakayama Yoshitaka), Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation (Okinawa Branch Manager: Furue Kentaro, hereinafter referred to as NTT West), NTT Business Solutions Corporation (Okinawa Business Sales Manager: Furukata Makoto, hereinafter referred to as NTT Business Solutions), and Azuma Transportation Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Matsubara Eimatsu, hereinafter referred to as Azuma Transportation) have concluded the "Ishigaki City autonomous driving Social Implementation Promotion Project Consortium Agreement" and applied for and were selected for the FY2024 "Regional Public Transportation Assurance, Maintenance and Improvement Project Subsidy (autonomous driving Social Implementation Promotion Project, hereinafter referred to as "this Project")".
Based on this consortium agreement, the four parties will, together with Macnica (Representative Director and President: Hara Kazumasa, hereinafter referred to as "Macnica), a global leader in autonomous driving electric buses, conduct a "Research Project for the Demonstration and Implementation of autonomous driving means for local residents" and "expanding secondary transportation means for tourists."

1. Background and Objectives
Social issues such as maintaining regional transportation and driver shortages for transportation are becoming more serious due to the labor shortage caused by the declining birthrate and aging population, and the 2024 problem. As a solution to these social issues, there is an urgent need to realize sustainable public transportation and logistics using mobility technologies such as autonomous driving. As a solution to these social issues, there is an urgent need to realize sustainable public transportation and logistics using mobility technologies such as autonomous driving, and the government has set a goal of more than 50 locations by fiscal year 2025 and more than 100 locations by fiscal year 2027, and is working toward this goal.

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 five parties will build comprehensive collaboration and cooperative relationships in the field of autonomous driving and combine their respective human and material resources to respond appropriately to regional issues and work together to promote business, with the aim of forming and developing a vibrant regional community and improving public services.

2. Overview of the survey project
In this project, we will conduct the following three research projects to confirm and verify the safety of autonomous driving, with a view to realizing year-round operation with Level 4 autonomous driving at the earliest possible date.
1) Demonstration of autonomous driving mobility on the demonstration route (public roads), identification of dangerous spots on the demonstration route, and implementation of risk analysis as countermeasures
②Acquire data using high-precision sensors to accurately determine the relative positions of surrounding objects and create a high-precision 3D map
③ Creation of route information based on the Road Traffic Act and requests from local residents

(1) Demonstration period
From Tuesday, November 12, 2024 to Saturday, November 16, 2024
(2) Location
Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture (running between Euglena Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal - Minamihamacho Green Park - Ishigaki Port New Port Area Passenger Ship Terminal, Figure 1)
(3) Vehicles and autonomous driving technologies used (Figure 2)
New EV bus NAVYA EVO
- Level 2 autonomous driving system compatible
- Seat capacity: 12 people (during demonstration test: 10 people <Number of passengers: 8 people (excluding driver and security guards)>)
- Speed 19km/h
- EV (maximum 9 hours, range 100km)

Figure 1. Demonstration driving route

Figure 2. Image of autonomous driving EV bus

3. Roles of each party
(1) Ishigaki City
Overall operation of the project, coordination with related parties, interviews with local residents and tourists, etc.
(2) NTT West
Research project supervision, project management, etc.
(3) NTT Business Solutions ^{* 1}
autonomous driving introduction engineering, autonomous driving driving route survey, etc.
(4) Azuma Transportation Co., Ltd.
Remote monitoring of vehicle operation, vehicle safety inspection, provision of stopping/parking/charging areas,
Other initiatives related to regional revitalization through autonomous driving, etc.
(5) Macnica
autonomous driving implementation engineering (vehicles) and support,
Risk assessment for driving routes, arranging operators for autonomous driving EV buses, etc.

*1 For details on NTT Business Solutions' "autonomous driving EV Bus Solution" service, please see the following URL.
　　　https://www.nttbizsol.jp/service/ev_autonomous_bus/

4. Future developments
Based on the results of this project, the five parties will continue to conduct demonstration studies and work to resolve various issues necessary for providing autonomous driving services (such as establishing an operation system) so that autonomous driving services (Level 4) can be implemented in society in FY2028.
Through these efforts, we aim to develop a next-generation public transportation network that connects tourist destinations scattered throughout Ishigaki City, increasing mobility within the city and providing a high-quality, safe autonomous driving service that can be used with confidence by local residents and tourists.

(Reference) Previous press releases related to this matter
Conclusion of the "Comprehensive Partnership Agreement on Regional Revitalization through autonomous driving" in Ishigaki City (March 13, 2024)

<Press releases from each party>
NTT West: https://www.ntt-west.co.jp/news/2403/240313a.html
Macnica: https://www.macnica.co.jp/public-relations/news/2024/144983/

Notification regarding the adoption of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "Subsidy for the Regional Public Transportation Assurance, Maintenance and Improvement Project (Project to Promote the Social Implementation autonomous driving)" (July 10, 2024)
https://www.ntt-west.co.jp/newscms/okinawa_info/13932/okinawa_i20240710a.pdf

● Macnica and Fuyo Lease Group Form Business Alliance to Advance Social Implementation of autonomous driving- Jointly Develop a Service Program to Support Demonstration Testing of autonomous driving- (June 16, 2021)

The autonomous driving EV buses used in this project will be provided by the "autonomous driving Demonstration Test Support Service Program" jointly established by Macnica, Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd., and Fuyo Auto Lease Co., Ltd. For details, please refer to the following URL.
https://www.macnica.co.jp/business/maas/news/2021/136501/

*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.

<Contact for inquiries regarding this matter>
Macnica Smart City & Mobility Division
TEL: 045-470-9118
MAIL: auto-solution@macnica.co.jp

<Contact for media inquiries>
Macnica://www.macnica.co.jp
Public Relations Office: Miyahara Email: macpr@macnica.co.jp