Strive for the elimination of traffic casualties and contribute to the creation of a safe and comfortable mobility society
The automotive industry has entered a once-in-a-century period of profound transformation. The birth and evolution of advanced technologies, such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), are poised to greatly expand the potential of mobility. Toyota Tsusho sees these changes as business opportunities and will aim to reduce the number of road accidents and achieve zero traffic casualties to contribute to the development of a safe and comfortable mobility society by utilizing material innovation and autonomous driving and advanced safe driving support technologies and engaging in such initiatives as improving the traffic infrastructure.
KPI
- Operation of driving school business in India and Thailand
- Provision of auto mechanic training in Uganda in cooperation with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support refugees
- Implementation of traffic safety programs at elementary schools in Côte d’Ivoire
- Implementation of in-house safety programs at consolidated subsidiaries in Africa, with approximately 8,400 employees participating in 2022
- Investment in May Mobility, Inc., an autonomous driving shuttle service provider, and joint participation in an autonomous driving project
- Development of OTA* services (prevention of accidents and vehicle error)
- Establishment of Sora-iina, a drone logistics company, and provision of mobility services in areas where land infrastructure is underdeveloped
- *Over-the-air: Remote software update function
Creating a Safe and Comfortable Mobility Society
In conjunction with recent advances in automobile performance including autonomous driving and increased use of electronics, the software loaded on automotive electronic control units (ECUs), which are like the brain of the car, has become increasingly large and complex.
In the future, cars will communicate with various devices, and it will be important for connected cars that provide safe, secure, comfortable, and convenient services to use OTA systems to wirelessly update software from remote locations.
Toyota Tsusho, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Denso Corporation have jointly invested in Airbiquity Inc., a developer of software for connected cars.
This investment will lead to accelerated development of safe and highly reliable OTA systems and contribute to connected car development and the creation of a new mobility society.
Vehicles on Expressways -Creation of a safe and comfortable mobility society
As part of demonstration tests for the societal implementation of truck platooning, subcontracted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Toyota Tsusho successfully conducted the test of truck platooning with driverless following trucks between the Enshu-Morimachi Parking Area and Hamamatsu Service Area on the Shin-Tomei Expressway (approximately 15 km) on February 22, 2021.
Aiming to achieve the Japanese government's goal of "realizing autonomous driving technology that enables truck platooning with driverless following trucks on expressways by the end of FY2020," Toyota Tsusho has been developing vehicle technologies and conducting demonstration tests of systems that feature driverless following vehicles since FY2016.
The autonomous driving technology for truck platooning that was recently successfully demonstrated had a convoy of three large trucks, including two driverless following trucks, traveling at a speed of 80 km/h while maintaining an intervehicle distance of approximately nine meters.
Toyota Tsusho is striving to help solve the issues being faced by the logistics industry, including the shortage and aging of truck drivers, and the need to improve fuel efficiency. Our goal is to contribute to the creation of a new mobility society.
