JapanPublic sector2023 – ongoingTown of Eiheiji
ZEN drive Level 4 autonomous mobility service
Eiheiji's driverless service paused after a bicycle collision and later suspended operations when maintenance coverage expired
Problem
Eiheiji tested driverless local mobility through a Level 4 public transport service operating without an onboard driver.
Approach
The Level 4 service began in May 2023 and was suspended after contacting a parked bicycle in October. The service later resumed. The town later announced another suspension from April 2026 because warranty and maintenance coverage for the vehicles and systems expired at the end of March.
Results
No published figures
Takeaway
The service depended on more than the technology working: after a collision paused it, it later stopped because maintenance coverage for the vehicles and systems ran out.
Categories
- Size
- Small business
- Industry
- Public sector
- Business function
- Production and qualityCustomer service
- Innovation type
- Product and service innovationProcess innovation
- AI technology
- Robotics and automationComputer vision
- Adoption
- Government support program
- Evidence
- Company's own claim
Sources
Source summaries
AFP reported the May launch and suspension after a collision with a parked bicycle. Local officials said nobody was injured and operations would remain suspended while the cause was investigated.
The town's updated service notice announced suspension from 1 April 2026 for the time being. It attributed the decision to expiration of vehicle and system warranty and maintenance coverage.
Full details are in the original sources.
