Hyperdrive
Volvo Unit Eyes Autonomous Trucks to Ease Japan Driver Shortage
- UD Trucks was part of Japanese government’s platooning trials
- Shortage of 240,000 truck drivers estimated in Japan by 2027
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UD Trucks, a Japanese subsidiary of Swedish truckmaker Volvo AB, plans to introduce electric and autonomous trucks within the next two years, joining global rivals in developing driverless technologies to ease a labor shortage.
The Japanese company will display autonomous and electric-drive prototypes this year, targeting field and and customer trials ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show in 2019, UD Trucks said in a statement Monday. It aims to have autonomous vehicles in daily operation by 2020 and full-fledged commercialization of fully electric and autonomous trucks by 2030, said the company, based in Saitama prefecture neighboring Tokyo.