1st ‘Level 4’ autonomous route bus in Japan hits the road in Matsuyama

MATSUYAMA — In a Japan first, a self-driving bus began operating here on Dec. 25 at fully autonomous “Level 4,” which does not necessitate manual driving given certain conditions.

According to the operator, Matsuyama-based Iyotetsu Group Co., this is the first regular service in the country for a route bus running at Level 4. The roughly 1.6-kilometer route it takes is between Takahama Eki-mae and Matsuyama Tourist Port stations, going both ways.

The fully electric vehicle can carry up to 12 passengers and run at a peak of 35 kmh. Of the roughly 60 round trips it takes, during winter driverless operations will be limited to between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Only cashless payments are accepted on board.

Safety officers holding Class 2 large vehicle licenses are aboard, while employees also monitor the bus’s operation remotely from an office within the city.

Iyotetsu began testing the self-driving function in October, and received approval from the Shikoku District Transport Bureau this month. The company stated that it chose a route that connects rail and sea transportation, and hopes to expand the service to other routes.

At a departing ceremony on Christmas Day, Ichiro Shimizu, the head of both Iyotetsu and the Nihon Bus Administration, said, “We hope the ‘Matsuyama model’ catches on nationwide to help resolve the driver staffing shortage that is becoming an issue in many places.”

(Japanese original by Akiko Hirose, Matsuyama Bureau)