Jan 22, 2024 | Business
Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) is pleased to announce that on January 19, 2024, Isuzu Motors Ltd. (Isuzu) became a new signatory to an agreement previously reached by MC and four other interests to collaborate on digital transformations (DX) in regional public transportation. The agreement, which focuses on autonomous-driving services in Kanagawa Prefecture’s Hiratsuka City, was originally signed on April 7, 2023 by MC, Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu Co., Ltd., Aisan Technology Co., Ltd., and A-Drive Inc.
Through its work to address logistics and mobility related challenges with DX-driven innovations, Isuzu has demonstrated that its values align with our five-partner commitment to this autonomous-driving project. Our shared goal to find mobility solutions made Isuzu’s inclusion in our agreement a logical step forward.
Signing Ceremony on January 19, 2024
Under the terms of this agreement, our six signatories today commenced a self-driving -bus proof of concept (PoC) in Hiratsuka City that shall take advantage of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s program for subsidizing projects that aim to maintain or improve regional public transportation. We look forward to validating the commercial potential of this autonomous-driving solution.
1. Objective of our Agreement
The objective of our six-party agreement is to help revitalize Japan’s regional communities by offering them public transportation services that are convenient, accessible and sustainable. We intend to achieve this through close collaboration, initiatives that effectively leverage our respective resources, and DX-driven, next-generation mobility solutions that focus on autonomous-driving technology applications.
2. Scope of Our Agreement
(1) Digital transformations in regional public transportation.
(2) More convenient mobility options through MaaS *. *Mobility as a service
(3) Regionally based self-driving PoC (mentioned in this release).
(4) Verification of problems in both operating and servicing self-driving buses.
(5) Other initiatives necessary to achieve our agreement’s objective.
Topic: Press release summary
Jul 15, 2023 | Business
Hitachi Astemo Ltd. announced that Isuzu Motors Limited adopted its sensing system in its new ELF model. Using a wide-angle stereo camera, the sensing system enables collision damage mitigation braking at intersections and on single-track roads.
With its enhanced safety equipment, the new ELF is the first light-duty truck in Japan to be equipped with braking that not only mitigates collision damage from the front, but also for right and left turns at intersections.(1)
As an effective measure to prevent traffic accidents, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan is promoting the mandatory installation of collision mitigation braking not only in passenger cars but also in commercial vehicles such as trucks. Although accidents caused by trucks have been decreasing year by year, 60 percent of fatal accidents involving pedestrians occur at single-track roads, while 40 percent occur at right or left turns in intersections.(2) Therefore there is a growing need for collision mitigation braking that can cover a wide field of view.
Based on Isuzu’s extensive knowledge of commercial vehicles, Hitachi Astemo developed a sensing system for Isuzu trucks that takes into account truck-specific use cases, along with the specification settings needed for achieving collision mitigation during right and left turns at intersections. The sensing system employed in the new ELF model utilizes a 120-degree wide-angle stereo camera, enabling an expanded detection range.(3) By combining the wide-angle stereo camera with detection information from millimeter-wave radar — a widely adopted safety feature for trucks — and implementing newly developed control software, Hitachi Astemo has achieved more precise wide-angle detection. This enables collision-mitigation braking at intersections and single-track roads.
Through its advanced driver assistance technologies in commercial vehicle manufacturing, Hitachi Astemo will continue to respond to the growing demand for enhanced vehicle safety features, and will strive to expand the adoption of sensing products such as stereo cameras.
Hitachi Astemo is committed to strengthening its business and delivering technological innovation through a strategic business portfolio, which consists of the Powertrain & Safety Systems business, Chassis business, Motorcycle business, Software business and Aftermarket business. Aiming for a better environment globally and growth around the pillars of “green,” “digital,” and “innovation,” Hitachi Astemo will deliver highly efficient internal combustion engine systems; electric systems that reduce emissions; autonomous driving for improved safety and comfort; advanced driver assistance systems; and advanced chassis systems. Through such advanced mobility solutions, Hitachi Astemo will contribute to realizing a sustainable society and provide enhanced corporate value for our customers.
(1) Features implemented through optional additions at the time of vehicle purchase.
(2) From statistical data in the Report of the Study Group on Traffic Accident Countermeasures in the Automobile Transport Business (FY2021), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
(3) Announcement on December 25, 2019 regarding stereo cameras that support wide angle of view detection, which enables collision mitigation braking at intersections.
About Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
Head Office: New Otemachi Building, Otemachi 2-chome, 2-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Business: Development, manufacture, sales and service of machinery and equipment and systems for automotive parts and transportation and industrial use.
For more information, please visit the Hitachi Astemo website: www.hitachiastemo.com/en/.
Topic: Press release summary
Jul 9, 2022 | Business
Isuzu Motors Limited (Isuzu), DENSO Corporation (DENSO), Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota), Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hino), and Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT) announced today that they have started planning and foundational research on hydrogen engines for heavy-duty commercial vehicles with the aim of further utilizing internal combustion engines as one option to achieve carbon neutrality.
On the road to carbon neutrality, there are various powertrain options to meet customers’ demands, including HEVs, BEVs, and FCEVs, in accordance with the differences in energy conditions in different countries and diversified customer uses. Hydrogen engines are one such option. The hydrogen-powered Corolla(1) has participated in the Super Taikyu Series(2) since May 2021, and hydrogen engine technology is evolving. In addition, efforts toward achieving a hydrogen society are further accelerating, such as the increase in the number of partners in producing, transporting, and using hydrogen.
CO2 reduction in transportation and logistics by heavy-duty commercial vehicles, an important piece of infrastructure that supports people’s lives, is a social issue that needs to be addressed together with partners who share a common vision toward achieving a carbon neutral society. Isuzu, DENSO, Toyota, Hino, and CJPT believe that hydrogen engines are one solution to this issue, and will utilize the technologies and know-how each company has accumulated to study the potential of hydrogen engines in heavy-duty commercial vehicles.
The five companies will contribute to creating an even-better society by expanding the options available for achieving carbon neutrality.
(1) ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 Concept
(2) “Super Taikyu Series 2021 Powered by Hankook,” “ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2022 Powered by Hankook”
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