Robotaxi Company MoveEz Joins MLIT’s “Subsidy Program for Securing, Maintaining and Improving Regional Public Transportation (Project to Promote the Social Implementation of Autonomous Driving)”

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MoveEz Inc. (Headquarters: Kanazawa, Ishikawa; Representative Director and CEO: Eric Wei; hereinafter “MoveEz”) has entered into a contract with Kamishihoro Town, Hokkaido (Mayor: Mitsugi Takenaka; hereinafter “Kamishihoro Town”), the lead entity for a project selected through an open call by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) under its Subsidy for Regional Public Transportation Maintenance and Improvement (Autonomous Driving Social Implementation Promotion Project; hereinafter the “Project”). Moving forward, MoveEz will work closely with Kamishihoro Town toward the social implementation of Level 4 autonomous driving.

■ Background

Amid mobility challenges arising from population decline—including driver shortages, accidents involving elderly drivers, and the surrender of driver’s licenses—Kamishihoro Town has identified “the development of a public transportation network that enables all residents, including older adults and those who have surrendered their driver’s licenses, to continue living in the town with peace of mind” as one of the key issues in its Local Public Transportation Plan. The town has been working to establish a sustainable public transportation network, including demonstration trials for the introduction of autonomous vehicles.

Against this backdrop, MoveEz’s autonomous driving technology, which enables year-round operation regardless of weather conditions, was recognized, leading to the continuation of its collaboration with Kamishihoro Town under the Project in FY2026.

In October 2025, MoveEz conducted a Robo-taxi operation test for local residents in Kamishihoro Town as part of a priority support project under the FY2025 iteration of the Project. The test covered a total route length of 100 km on public roads—the longest in Japan*—and carried members of the general public.
Reference: [Autonomous Driving] MoveEz Launches Japan’s Longest and Fastest Robot Taxi Field Test in Kamishihoro, Hokkaido (Japanese only)
*Source: Company research based on publicly available information on autonomous driving demonstration tests conducted in Japan, including those carried out by overseas companies. Survey conducted in October 2025.

In January 2026, MoveEz conducted Japan’s first autonomous Robo-taxi field test on snowy public roads in areas affected by snow accumulation and freezing*. The test covered a total distance of more than 650 km and included driving on public roads at speeds of up to 60 km/h.
Reference: MoveEz Conducts Japan’s First Autonomous Robot Taxi Field Test on Snowy Public Roads in Kamishihoro, Hokkaido
*Source: Company research based on publicly available information on autonomous driving demonstration tests conducted in Japan, including those carried out by overseas companies. Survey conducted in January 2026.

■ Purpose of the Project

To address the challenges identified in the Local Public Transportation Plan, this demonstration project will examine the future introduction of driverless autonomous vehicles as an alternative to community bus services in central Kamishihoro Town. Beyond replacing existing services, the project will also evaluate their potential as a new means of transportation that supports residents’ daily lives—including shopping, medical appointments, commuting to school, and visiting public facilities—with future route expansion into rural areas also under consideration.

By establishing an on-demand autonomous driving service that can operate flexibly in response to users’ mobility needs, the project aims to build a sustainable regional public transportation system that enables everyone to travel with peace of mind, even in communities facing driver shortages and an aging population.

Through this demonstration, the project will determine the operational area for Level 4 autonomous driving* in central Kamishihoro, with the goal of deployment by FY2027. It will also evaluate the service’s convenience and safety, the remote monitoring framework, and community acceptance, while laying the groundwork for full-scale operation in the future.

*Level 4 autonomous driving refers to a level of automation in which the system performs all driving tasks and the vehicle can operate without a driver under specified operating conditions.

■ Project Overview

Program name: FY2026 Subsidy for Regional Public Transportation Maintenance and Improvement (Autonomous Driving Social Implementation Promotion Project)

Operating schedule:

• Preparatory operations: 20 days between July 1 and September 30, 2026
• Public passenger service and stakeholder test rides: 40 days between October 1, 2026 and January 31, 2027

Operating area: Central Kamishihoro Town

MLIT announcement: https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/jidosha07_hh_000553.html

Under the project, MoveEz plans to be responsible for map generation, provision of the autonomous driving system and vehicles, technical verification of the route sections covered by the Level 4 application, applications for the permits and approvals required for Level 4 autonomous driving, and the dispatch of safety drivers.

■ Future Outlook

Through programs such as the Regional Revitalization Entrepreneur Program, MoveEz plans to dispatch personnel with expertise in autonomous driving technology and regional transportation to Kamishihoro Town. By working closely with the town, MoveEz will help establish an integrated framework for advancing the project.

The dispatched personnel will coordinate stakeholders, develop the necessary operational framework, and identify local challenges and user needs to ensure the smooth implementation of the demonstration project. They will also provide ongoing support for the deployment of autonomous driving services in Kamishihoro Town.

By building on the results of this project and related initiatives, MoveEz envisions establishing Kamishihoro Town as a leading model for regional mobility transformation in Japan and extending that model to other regions. From Kamishihoro, MoveEz aims to demonstrate what sustainable regional public transportation can look like in a society facing population decline and to bring this model to communities across Japan that face similar mobility challenges.

■ About MoveEz, Inc.

Founded in May 2024, MoveEz, Inc. is a startup originating from Kanazawa University that aims to realize fully autonomous robotaxis under its mission to “enable freedom of movement for everyone and create a society without mobility disparities.”

MoveEz builds on 27 years of research and development conducted at Kanazawa University since 1998, when the field was still in its infancy. The company began testing its technology on public roads in 2015, ahead of much of the industry. To date, its vehicles have traveled a cumulative distance of more than 40,000 km and carried over 2,000 passengers, and the company holds numerous patents. MoveEz has successfully conducted demonstration tests in Tokyo, Hokkaido, Chiba Prefecture, and other locations across Japan.