Conducting a research project aimed at demonstrating and implementing autonomous driving in Minamisatsuma City

Minamisatsuma City (Mayor: Teruo Motobo), Macnica (President Board Director: Kazumasa Hara, hereinafter Macnica), and NTT West Corporation Kagoshima Branch (Branch Manager: Masashi Uryu, hereinafter NTT West) have been working on an autonomous driving demonstration project since fiscal year 2024 to "ensure sustainable public transportation." The project has primarily focused on verifying safety and social acceptability, and has received a favorable response from 91% of users. This fiscal year, autonomous driving demonstration project will run from Monday, January 26, 2026 to Monday, February 9, 2026, with a route that circulates around the city, taking a more in-depth approach to realizing social implementation.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
1. Overview of the demonstration project
In this project, in preparation for the future social implementation of Level 4 autonomous driving, signal coordination will be implemented in some sections, and partial operation equivalent to Level 4 will be planned.

(1) Demonstration period
January 26, 2026 (Monday) to February 9, 2026 (Monday)

(2) Location
Minamisatsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture (Demonstration driving route Figure 1)

(3) autonomous driving technology and vehicles used (Figure 2)
Navya Mobility's "EVO3" autonomous driving electric bus
This is autonomous driving shuttle bus equipped with an autonomous driving EV system. It is an EV (electric vehicle) specification,
It can travel automatically for approximately 10 hours (100km) on a single charge.

Overall length: 4,780 mm Overall height: 2,720 mm
Overall width: 2,170mm Weight: 2,500kg
Maximum speed: 18km/h
Passenger capacity: 12 people
The vehicle's capacity during the demonstration experiment was 10 people (9 passengers and 1 driver).
Power source: electric motor
Maximum speed: 18km/h (average speed during demonstration experiment: 15km/h)
autonomous driving level: Level 2 (technically equivalent to Level 3)
Other: In case of emergency, the driver will manually intervene

[Figure 1. Demonstration route] 8 trips/day (fixed time and route) *planned
A circular route that goes from City Hall to Satsunan Hospital to Kamizono Park to Thank You Kaseda Store to Kiyattomo
Distance: Approximately 4.5km

[Figure 2. autonomous driving technology]

[Figure 3. Vehicles used]

<Expected effects of this demonstration (anticipated)>
The realization of autonomous driving is expected to not only improve the convenience of public transportation for local residents, but also reduce traffic accidents and promote efficient road use.In the future, autonomous driving is expected to trigger exchanges and collaborations between companies, industry, government, and academia, leading to the creation of new businesses and industries originating from the city, and the revitalization and revitalization of local industries, promoting the development of a vibrant city through industrial revitalization.

2. Division of roles
Minamisatsuma City - Operator of the autonomous driving business, provision of driving routes, parking areas, charging areas, etc.
Macnica: Provision of autonomous driving EV buses and remote operation management systems;
autonomous driving EV bus engineering and support, operation system construction, etc.
NTT West Japan - Project management, overall requirements and configuration review, field verification planning and coordination, etc.

3. Future developments
Based on the results of this project, we aim to realize the social implementation (Level 4) of autonomous driving vehicles in fiscal 2027, and will continue to conduct demonstration studies and work to resolve various issues, such as building the operational system necessary to provide autonomous driving services.
Through these efforts, we aim to realize a safe and comfortable autonomous driving service that can be used with confidence by local residents of Minamisatsuma City, the surrounding area, and tourists.
　　　　

*The information contained in this news release is current as of the date of publication. Please note that it may be subject to change.