Self-driving gets off to bumpy start in Fukui town

Technical and financial problems have been identified in the year since Japan's first transportation service using so-called Level 4 autonomous driving began in the town of Eiheiji, Fukui Prefecture. Amid the country's declining population, Level 4 autonomous driving, or driving that is fully automated under certain conditions, is viewed as a promising means of transport. The service in Eiheiji, however, has shown the hurdles that must be cleared. On May 28, 2023, the service was launched on a 2-kilometer section of a walkway in Eiheiji. It is available only on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.