NTT says to test driverless vehicle tech
with Toyota, invest in US startup
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[November 06, 2023]
TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT)
plans to test driverless vehicle technology with Toyota Motor and invest
in a U.S. startup developing self-driving systems, a spokesperson for
the telecommunications firm said on Monday.
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A Toyota logo is seen during the New York International Auto Show, in
Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee'
Delgado/File Photo |
NTT
aims to start tests with autonomous buses and taxis as early as
2025 and invest about 10 billion yen ($66.91 million) in U.S.
startup May Mobility, the spokesperson said, highlighting
growing momentum behind self-driving technology in Japan.
The Nikkei newspaper first reported on Monday that NTT will
invest in May Mobility, adding that both NTT and Toyota would
jointly develop vehicles. Both the NTT spokesperson and a Toyota
spokesperson said they had no plans for joint development.
Toyota did not comment further.
May Mobility has attracted investments from Japanese firms
before. Insurer Tokio Marine said last year it had joined a $111
million funding round in the Michigan-based firm, while a
Toyota-linked venture capital unit co-led a seed investment in
the company in 2018.
NTT's growing involvement in autonomous driving technology comes
after Honda Motor said in October it aimed to set up a joint
venture with General Motors and its robo-taxi firm Cruise and
wanted to begin a driverless ride service in Japan in early
2026.
Cruise late that month suspended all driverless vehicle
operations in the United States following an accident that led
California regulators to order the company to remove its
driverless cars from state roads.
($1 = 149.4500 yen)
(Reporting by Daniel Leussink, Maki Shiraki and Satoshi
Sugiyama, Editing by Louise Heavens and Christina Fincher)
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