NTT and May Mobility to provide autonomous services
- October 15, 2024
- Steve Rogerson

Michigan-based May Mobility is helping NTT provide reliable and safe autonomous driving services in Japan.
NTT Docomo was selected as the service provider for the Aichi Prefecture government’s autonomous driving operation project and will conduct autonomous vehicle operations as a regular service, using May Mobility’s technology.
The companies are planning an autonomous driving pilot at the NTT Central Training Center.
Through Aichi Prefecture’s operation and the NTT Central Training Center pilot, NTT and May Mobility want to improve the social acceptance of autonomous driving services and accelerate their efforts towards public implementation by strengthening cooperation with various stakeholders.
After investing in May Mobility in November 2023 and acquiring the exclusive rights to sell its autonomous driving system in Japan, NTT is optimising its autonomous driving services by combining May Mobility’s patented AI-based autonomous driving technology with NTT’s high-speed, low-latency reliable communication network technology and local human resources.
The companies intend to develop a sustainable autonomous vehicle business model by building a track record through long-term operations in Japan. To do so, NTT Docomo (www.docomo.ne.jp) submitted its proposal for an autonomous driving service that uses May Mobility’s technology, which was accepted by the Aichi Prefecture government.
The pilot at the NTT Central Training Center will start later this month and create opportunities for various stakeholders to experience the autonomous driving technology first-hand. May Mobility and NTT believe that by creating this opportunity, they can have meaningful conversations with stakeholders.
The operation will run from next month until March 2025. The vehicle was developed based on Toyota’s Sienna minivan.
This will be the first initiative in Japan to conduct regular operations by autonomous vehicles along arterial roads in urban areas with heavy traffic. While conducting regular autonomous operations, the companies will validate autonomous driving and positive ride experiences in urban areas as they work towards driverless operations.
Through this collaboration, NTT and May Mobility will also consider the possibility of providing autonomous driving services with vehicles of different sizes and will accelerate efforts to provide vehicles that meet the needs of regions and usage scenarios. They will also work to enable the simultaneous driving and management of multiple vehicle types.
May Mobility began driverless autonomous operations in North America in 2023. Through this collaboration, May Mobility and NTT Group aim to provide fully autonomous level-four driving services in Japan.
NTT (www.ntt.com) and May Mobility (www.maymobility.com) will continue to consider the possibility of conducting demonstration tests and regular operations in new areas. They will further strengthen their cooperation with local communities and promote gradual business development based on enhanced safety and security, improved convenience, and a solid operational track record. The companies also want to provide safe and secure automated driving services that contribute to solving social problems faced by local communities, such as revitalising local economies and addressing the aging society.