Autonomous Freight Road Trials to Begin October 28
Overview
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will begin trials of the “Autonomous Logistics Road,” a system intended to address the logistics crisis and achieve carbon neutrality. The trials will take place at the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Narita International Airport, and participating companies’ own facilities. Media representatives must apply for coverage no later than one week before the trial start date. Coverage is limited to times when visitors can be accommodated.
Key points
- The government is promoting an “Autonomous Logistics Road” that allocates dedicated space for freight within road infrastructure and uses clean energy to power unmanned, automated transport.
- Trials will begin in preparation for social implementation in fiscal year 2026.
- Only media representatives may cover the trials, and advance registration is required.
Overview
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is promoting the development of the “Autonomous Logistics Road,” a new logistics system that uses road infrastructure, to address the logistics crisis and achieve carbon neutrality.
The trials were selected on September 8, 2026, and the start of the experiments has now been announced.
Impact
Coverage is limited to media representatives, and applications must be submitted no later than one week before the start date of the desired trial. Availability is limited, and requests may not be accommodated. Each company also has specified dates when site visits are possible.
Details
According to the schedule for trials at the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management in Tsukuba (representative companies listed), Taisei Corporation will conduct trials from October 28 to November 2, 2026, and on November 10, 2026.
According to the schedule for trials at Narita International Airport (representative companies listed), Shimizu Corporation will conduct trials from November 9 to 18, Chiba Prefecture from November 19 to 25, and Kajima Corporation from December 7 to 18, all in 2026.
According to the schedule for trials at company facilities (representative companies listed), Shimizu Corporation will conduct trials at Onkochishin no Mori NOVARE from November 4 to 6 and November 24 to 26, and Kajima Corporation will conduct trials at Mitsubishi Electric’s Owariasahi Plant from November 24 to December 4, all in 2026.
Site visit dates are October 30 in the morning for Taisei Corporation at the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management; November 19 in the morning for Shimizu Corporation, November 24 in the morning for Chiba Prefecture, and December 17 in the morning for Kajima Corporation, all at Narita International Airport. To apply for coverage, contact the inquiry contact. Email applications must include the specified subject line, name, affiliation, coverage details, and contact information.