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The L4 Autonomous Driving Logistics Trailer Promotion Council, formed by ORIX Auto, Senko, and Robotruck, s tart the First Autonomous Driving Demonstration with Semi-Trailer on the Public Road in Japan under the FY2025 MLIT Program

2026.02.09

The L4 Autonomous Driving Logistics Trailer Promotion Council, formed by ORIX Auto Corporation (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Susumu Naito; hereinafter “ORIX Auto”), Senko Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Kita-ku, Osaka; President: Noboru Ohgoshi; hereinafter “Senko”), and Robotruck Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yusuke Haga; hereinafter “Robotruck”), will commence its first public-road demonstration test (*1) with autonomous tractor head on February 10 under the FY2025 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) demonstration program.

Based on the results of R&D efforts, the demonstration will be conducted between TSUNAGU STATION Hamamatsu and TSUNAGU STATION Shin-Fuji, logistics relay hubs operated by Senko. The test will utilize a semi-trailer–type autonomous truck (hereinafter referred to as an “autonomous semi-trailer”) and marks the first public-road trial of its kind in Japan under this program.

The L4 Autonomous Logistics Trailer Promotion Council is a consortium for MLIT’s Demonstration Project for the Social Implementation of Autonomous Trucks for Trunk-Line Transportation.

Within the consortium, Robotruck is responsible for the development of autonomous semi-trailer technology, ORIX Auto conducts business planning leveraging its extensive experience in automotive-related service development, and Senko provides logistics operations and facilities. By combining their respective strengths, the three companies are jointly working toward the social implementation of autonomous semi-trailers through public-road demonstration testing.

(*1) The demonstration is conducted with a driver on board who can immediately override driving operations if necessary.

Overview of the Project

Autonomous driving of semi-trailers is considered particularly challenging due to technical hurdles, such as complex steering behavior arising from vehicle length and articulated structures, as well as the need for stable control during lane changes. To address these challenges, Robotruck has been advancing the development of autonomous semi-trailer technology using its proprietary AI algorithms and technologies. Meanwhile, ORIX Auto and Senko have been conducting validation studies toward social implementation based on real-world logistics operations.

The primary objective of this public-road demonstration is to establish safe and stable autonomous driving technology on highways. The test will be conducted on the Shin-Tomei highway, between Shin-Fuji Interchange and Hamamatsu Service Area Smart Interchange, using the autonomous semi-trailer developed by Robotruck.

In addition, at the designated departure and arrival points, TSUNAGU STATION, the companies will verify logistics efficiency improvements through semi-trailer swapping operations that assume relay transportation.

The semi-trailer offers a greater payload capacity compared to conventional box-type trucks and can be operated by separating the tractor (prime mover) and trailer (cargo unit). By exchanging only the trailer at logistics hubs, loading and unloading time can be minimized from driving operations, allowing tractors to immediately proceed to the next transport assignment.

When combined with autonomous driving, this approach is also expected to mitigate logistics problem caused by driver shortages, improving tractor utilization rates and further enhancing overall logistics efficiency.

[Image of the Demonstration Concept]

[Vehicles Used in the Demonstration]

Future Initiatives

As stricter regulations on truck driver overtime continue to exacerbate labor shortages and reduced transport capacity — commonly referred to as the “2024 Logistics Issue” — autonomous driving technology is expected to be one of the most promising solutions to address labor challenges in the logistics industry.

Based on the results of this demonstration, ORIX Auto, Senko, and Robotruck aim to expand the demonstration routes from Tokyo–Nagoya, and to Tokyo–Osaka. By verifying the effectiveness of operational models that combine manned and unmanned sections, as well as relay transportation using semi-trailers, the three companies will jointly accelerate efforts toward the early social implementation and commercial operation of autonomous trailers.

Roles of Each Company

ORIX Auto Corporation	Project management, overall plan management, business feasibility analysis
Senko Co., Ltd	Provision of departure and arrival locations, lending of trailers for demonstration
Robotruck Inc.	Autonomous system development, execution of driving demonstrations

Roles of Each Company

ORIX Corporation Investor Relations and Sustainability Department	TEL: +81-3-3435-3121
Senko Co., Ltd. General Affairs Department, Public Relations	TEL: +81-6-6440-5158 E-mail: soum@sknet.senko.co.jp Website: https://www.senko.co.jp
Robotruck Inc. Public Relations	E-mail: info@robotruck.jp Website: https://robotruck.jp/ LinkedIn: https://jp.linkedin.com/ company/ robotruck-inc