On July 2, TIER IV, an open source software provider for autonomous driving, has established a strategic partnership with mobility startup Newmo to commercialize self-driving taxi services in Japan.
Image source:
Tia Zhixing
regional travel needs
As Japan’s population ages, there is an increasing need for commercial autonomous driving services to meet regional travel needs. The Japanese government aims to operate autonomous vehicles in more than 100 locations by 2027 and is actively promoting the deployment of commercial autonomous taxi services, which are currently in operation in some cities in the United States and China.
According to the 2025 Bond Capital Trends Report, passedOnline ride-hailingSelf-driving taxis booked by apps account for 27% of San Francisco trips. As international autonomous taxi operators begin collecting public road data in major Japanese cities, the collaboration between Tia Zhixing and Newmo aims to advance Japan’s self-developed autonomous driving technology.
Accelerate deployment
Tia Zhixing and Newmo will work together to develop a safe and reliable autonomous driving system based on Autoware (open source software for autonomous driving). Tea Zhixing’s extensive experience in conducting proof-of-concept tests under various environmental conditions around the world will lay the foundation for advancing the commercial deployment of autonomous taxi services in Japan.
Tia Zhixing will continue to develop partnerships to accelerate the deployment of self-driving taxi services across Japan and support the government’s efforts to build autonomous public transportation.
With more than 1,000 taxis in operation and a well-established Japanese-style ride-sharing business in Osaka Prefecture, Newmo plans to expand and commercialize its self-driving taxi service as a new mobility solution.
Shinpei Kato, Founder and CEO of Tia Zhixing, said: “Tia Zhixing is committed to accelerating the deployment of autonomous driving with Autoware and working hand in hand with communities and partners around the world. Newmo, a company actively addressing regional transportation challenges through taxi and ride-hailing services, will advance autonomous taxi technology with this new partnership. Through this collaboration, we aim to establish a Japanese-rooted autonomous taxi service in Japan and make it an important part of supporting the mobility infrastructure of local communities. ”
“As transportation challenges become increasingly severe due to Japan’s demographic shifts, autonomous taxis will play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of infrastructure,” said Naoki Aoyagi, CEO of Newmo. Newmo leverages our operational and technical expertise in local taxi and ride-sharing services to proactively address mobility challenges. By partnering with Tea Zhixing, a leader in the field of autonomous driving, we will steadily advance the commercialization of self-driving taxi services originating in Japan by combining our operational experience and cutting-edge technology. Together with our stakeholders, we will continue to fulfill our mission of ’embarking on a colorful journey with Newmo to unlock the potential of individuals and communities with new mobility services’. ”
