Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA) has initiated deliberations on autonomous driving, covering such topics as recognition of non-driving tasks during autonomous driving. By the end of the current fiscal year, the NPA hopes to establish some direction for policy. The Japanese government has a goal of making Level 3 autonomous driving feasible by 2020. At...
Regulatory Agencies
METI to Support Corporate Product Design Strategies
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is pledging its support for Japanese corporate product design strategies. METI has set up an exploratory committee to consider industrial competitiveness and design and already started having discussions on the topic. The committee will submit an interim report by November and a final report next March, with...
Japanese Government Draws up Roadmap for Developing Connected Car Technology
Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has formally drafted plans and a roadmap for the development of connected car technology. The new roadmap identifies the future course of each area of connected services to utilize technologies such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and the 5G mobile communications system, which boasts a transmission speed nearly 100 times...
MIC to Launch Connected Car Project in FY 2018
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) plans to embark on a pilot project in fiscal 2018, focusing on the technology and systems required for connected cars. In addition to the automotive and telecommunications industries, relevant ministries and agencies, local governments and ordinary drivers will be involved in the project. The trial will see...
METI and MLIT Announce New Fuel Efficiency Labels
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) officially announced new fuel efficiency labels for passenger vehicles on July 4. Vehicles measured for fuel efficiency under the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC), an international standard for testing emissions and fuel efficiency, will now...
MLIT Strives to Reduce Commercial Vehicle Traffic Accidents With New Plan
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has revised its accident prevention plan for trucks, buses and taxis. The final fiscal year of the plan is aligned with the 10th Traffic Safety Basic Plan and establishes a new goal of reducing the number of accidents caused by commercial vehicles to a maximum of...
Increased Demand Poised for Aftermarket Mufflers, Wheels Following Safety Standard Revisions
Partial amendments to safety standards in Japan’s Road Transport Vehicle Act have the industry in high hopes for the potential of aftermarket mufflers, wheels and other parts. These amendments have seen the National Agency for Automobile and Land Transport Technology (NALTEC) and the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization, which are responsible for carrying out inspections,...
METI–China Vice-Ministers Discuss Rules for Automobile and Parts Sales
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) recently held vice ministerial-level talks with the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM). In discussions pertaining to the automobile sector, the officials exchanged views on rules for the sale of automobiles in China and after-sales parts. The vice ministerial talks are conducted once...
G7 Transport Ministers Agree to Accelerate Development of Autonomous Driving Technology
Transport ministers from the Group of Seven major advanced economies (G7) have issued a ministerial declaration that includes accelerating the development of autonomous driving technology. While hastening the creation of technical standards under the framework of the United Nations, the working group established under the auspices of the G7 Transport Ministers’ Meeting will continue exchanging...
WP29 to Work on International Safety Standards for Hands-Free Driving
The U.N.’s World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP29) will begin developing safety standards this autumn for autonomous driving starting at Level 3, which covers conditional automation. Having taken the initiative in deliberations at WP29, Japan will also take the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and cybersecurity measures into consideration as the country seeks...
METI to Subsidize 150-Kilowatt Ultrahigh-Speed Charging Stations
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) recently announced its plans to subsidize ultrahigh-speed charging stations that can charge electric vehicles (EVs) in around 10 minutes. Provisions will be established as part of the subsidy system for this fiscal year at an amount of 2.3 billion yen ($20.71 million). In addition to preparing for...
METI Speeds up Deregulation of Hydrogen Stations
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) plans to further accelerate its easing of regulations concerning hydrogen stations. METI has until now been revising regulations primarily to reduce costs for the construction of hydrogen stations and tanks. Now, however, the ministry plans to revise its regulations concerning safety inspections and approve of remote monitoring...
MLIT Decides on New Policy for Bringing Autonomous Driving to Japan’s Roads
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has decided on a new policy for tackling autonomous driving technology. In addition to developing devices for providing information enabling autonomous driving vehicles to merge smoothly onto expressways, MLIT will begin verification testing of autonomous driving technology in mountainous areas, as well as in new towns...
METI, MLIT Get Ready to Hammer out New Fuel Economy Regulations
The Japanese government has announced that it will begin formulating new fuel economy regulations for passenger vehicles. The regulations will be put together over the span of a year by a joint council between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Discussions are scheduled...
National Police Agency Releases Standards for Testing Remote-Controlled Self-Driving Cars on Public Roads
On June 1, 2017, the National Police Agency (NPA) of Japan informed prefectural police departments of new standards for verification tests of remote-controlled self-driving cars on public roads. The standards make it mandatory to conduct preliminary driving evaluations with a police officer on board and to have in place safety measures that allow the car...
Japanese Government Finalizes Public–Private ITS Initiative/Roadmaps 2017
The Japanese government recently concluded deliberations to create Public–Private ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) Initiatives/Roadmaps 2017. The government revised its definition of autonomous driving, specifying forecasts and implementation time frames for the three areas of private vehicles, logistics and transportation in rural areas. The plan incorporates policies to formulate data necessary for implementation while outlining institutional...
METI Emphasizes Automotive as Key Area in New Industrial Structure Vision
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) released a draft on May 29 of its New Industrial Structure Vision, slated to serve as a set of guidelines for future economic and industrial policies. The guidelines detail necessary policies for tackling certain walls that need to be broken down, including regulations, customs and corporate isolationism....
Japan’s LDP Puts Forth Policy Proposals for Autonomous Driving, Seeks Tie-up With Germany
Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) recently made its policy proposals for autonomous driving. Japan’s governing political party called for putting in place a shared database to enhance control technology, as well as for the use of quasi-zenith satellites. In 3D mapping, the LDP is seeking active international cooperation with the likes of Germany so as...
Toyota Tsusho, Aichi Prefecture Team up to Promote Global Business Expansion
Toyota Tsusho Corp. (TYO:8015) recently announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Aichi prefectural government to assist in the overseas development of companies based in the prefecture. This is the first time for Toyota Tsusho to work with a prefecture toward aiding such expansion. From small-to-midsize companies to major corporations, there is...
MOE to Review Muffler and Tire Noise Standards
Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE) is undertaking a review of noise regulations for commercial mufflers and tires in automobiles. The regulatory standards for each of these areas is to come under focus, and a recently established inquiry commission in MOE’s Central Environment Council’s will collate the findings in a report for the spring of...
Japan’s Transport, Environment Ministries Clamp Down on Excess Emissions
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and Ministry of the Environment (MOE) on April 20 put together a policy to make it illegal for nitrous oxide (NOX) emissions in real driving emissions tests to exceed twice the regulation value of bench tests. The implementation of the real driving emissions tests is being...
METI Revises Japanese Industrial Standards for Spot Welding
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced on April 20 that it has revised the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) concerning inspection methods for spot-welded parts. Along with the addition of an extra base material category, the standards now cover ultrahigh-tensile steel plates and clarify the acceptable size of spot welds, something that had...
As Self-Driving Cars May Obstruct Traffic, Japan’s Police Reviews Road Laws
Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA) will reconsider how it enforces regulations pertaining to entry onto expressways. Existing laws and regulations are such that strict adherence would possibly leave self-driving cars unable to merge smoothly into traffic, and automakers have requested the NPA to consider traffic conditions and optimize these regulations accordingly. Japan is looking to...
2016 Sees Second Highest Number of Recalls in Japan – MLIT
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced on April 7 that a total of 15,848,401 vehicles were recalled in Japan in fiscal 2016. Driven by the recall of all automobiles outfitted with Takata Corp. (TYO:7312) airbags, it is the second highest recall count to date, behind that of fiscal 2015. However, the...
MLIT to Introduce Verification System for Automatic Brakes This Autumn
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) will launch a verification system this autumn to test the performance of collision damage mitigation braking systems (CDMBS). MLIT plans to conduct verification tests when designating types based off of automaker submissions. MLIT will disclose vehicle models that meet the standard set by the ministry and...
Japanese Government Compiles Policy Proposals for Autonomous Driving System Development
The Japanese government has compiled basic policy proposals for guidelines on autonomous driving system development. In order to become the first country in the world to implement unmanned driving, the Japanese government will not obstruct technological innovation and will flexibly manage safety inspections. In addition, it will advance the rapid provision of aid to victims...
METI Drafts Guidelines for Virtual Simulation Practices in Automobile Development
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced on March 31 that it has drafted a policy to promote model-based development (MBD) for the virtual simulation of automobile development and performance assessments. METI released its guidelines for defining the intermodal interfaces used, as well as the vehicle performance simulation model that forms a common...
METI, MLIT Adopt Global WLTC Testing Procedures for Gas Mileage Labels
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) adopted a new policy on March 22 affecting gas mileage labels on passenger vehicles. The revamped labels will begin appearing on cars this summer. The Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC), a new set of international...
METI–MLIT Commission Report Takes Aim at Autonomous Driving on General Roads
Japan’s autonomous driving business commission, initiated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), released a report on March 14 that details the promotion of autonomous driving technology on general roads. Categorizing autonomous driving technologies into private and business vehicle applications, the commission plans to...
JAMA Eyes to Standardize 3D Drawings
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) is setting out to standardize 3D drawing for designs of automobiles and parts. Along with aiming to make it part of the Japan Industrial Standards (JIS) by fiscal 2018, JAMA is looking at ISO classification as well over the medium–long term. Although ISO standards for 3D drawings already exist,...
