为弥补司机短缺，日本将加速L4自动驾驶车辆部署

Group 1 - Japan plans to achieve a scale of 10,000 autonomous vehicles by the fiscal year 2030, including buses, taxis, and trucks with L4-level autonomous driving capabilities [1][3] - The initiative is part of a national transportation plan updated by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, aiming to address labor shortages in the transportation sector [3][6] - As of August 2023, the number of taxi drivers in Japan has decreased by 20% compared to 2019, with approximately 230,000 drivers remaining [6] Group 2 - The Japanese government anticipates that the number of autonomous vehicles in use will increase tenfold by the fiscal year 2030, from fewer than 1,000 vehicles expected by the fiscal year 2027 [6] - To support this goal, Japan will implement additional policies, including increased subsidies for local governments to promote autonomous buses and establish a mechanism for approving complex autonomous driving systems [6] - Japan aims to develop accident analysis processes for L4-level autonomous commercial vehicles, which will further encourage domestic manufacturers to innovate in autonomous vehicle technology [6] Group 3 - Japan's journey in autonomous driving has faced challenges, including a notable incident during the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics where a Toyota autonomous bus hit an athlete, raising safety concerns [7] - Following the incident, Toyota temporarily halted operations of autonomous buses in the Paralympic Village and implemented safety measures before resuming [7] - The first autonomous bus in Japan is set to begin operations in Matsuyama City in December 2024, with a route length of 1.6 km and a maximum speed of 35 km/h, featuring safety personnel and remote monitoring [9]