Investment in May Mobility, Inc., and acquisition of exclusive domestic distribution rights in Japan for the autonomous driving system
Toward the realization of a safe and sustainable mobility society

1. Background

In recent years, the shortage of drivers in the rural areas has become apparent due to the declining birthrate and aging population, and the autonomous driving technology is expected to solve these social problems. In addition, the revised Road Traffic Law came into effect on April 1, 2023, and under certain conditions, Level 4 autonomous driving on public roads are permitted.
　High-speed and reliable communication network service environments using 5G, local 5G or 6G are essential for more secure and safe autonomous driving, and we hope to achieve this goal through our IOWN initiative.
　By investing in and partnering with May Mobility, Inc., a key technology provider of autonomous driving, we will establish an ecosystem to continuously supply more secure and safe autonomous driving services.

2. Investment Partners

3. Outlook

In cooperation with residents, local transportation operators, and various stakeholders, we plan to promote the social implementation of autonomous driving services in regions where these services are expected. Particularly, we plan to deepen our cooperation with Toyota Motor Corporation, which has partnered with NTT Group since March 2020 with the aim of building a long-term and continuous cooperative relationship in the Smart City business.
　First, we will work to provide community bus services through cooperation with local governments that have transportation issues. We will then expand our autonomous driving services to include a variety of vehicle types and contribute to improving the social acceptability of autonomous driving services.
　In the development and expansion of this business, NTT Group will establish an ecosystem, including vehicles, autonomous driving system, communication network, and remote monitoring to provide a mechanism for the dissemination of autonomous driving services. We will provide more secure and safe autonomous driving services by contributing to the improvement of social acceptability through close communication with local stakeholders.
　By combining service provision through autonomous driving, with the community-based problem-solving capabilities we have cultivated, we will contribute to solving not only local transportation problems, but also social problems in various fields, such as the local economy, health, and welfare.