Home / Technology / Nuro Navigates Tokyo's Toughest Streets for Robotaxis
Nuro Navigates Tokyo's Toughest Streets for Robotaxis
12 Mar
Summary
- Nuro is testing autonomous vehicles on Tokyo's challenging streets.
- The company aims for Level 4 autonomy with future robotaxi services.
- Waymo is also testing robotaxis in Tokyo with local partners.
Nuro, a US-based self-driving startup, has commenced testing its autonomous vehicles on the intricate streets of Tokyo. This move comes as the company prepares to launch a robotaxi service in San Francisco later this year, in partnership with Uber and Lucid.
The Japanese capital presents a unique challenge for autonomous driving systems due to its narrow, congested roads and the practice of driving on the left. Nuro's CEO, Andrew Chapin, views this testing environment as an effective way to assess the system's capabilities under demanding conditions.
Nuro aims to achieve Level 4 autonomy, which signifies full self-driving capabilities within defined operational limits. This initiative places Nuro in competition with Waymo, another major robotaxi operator, which is also conducting tests in Tokyo in collaboration with local partners.
Beyond rides, Nuro envisions a versatile autonomy platform applicable to various services, a strategy that may differ from Waymo's focus. The company has previously explored autonomous deliveries with 7-Eleven in California. Meanwhile, Uber is expanding its autonomous vehicle fleet, planning to integrate Nuro and Lucid vehicles into its robotaxi service starting in 2027.
