Osaka Self-Driving Bus Trial Switches From Chinese EV to Domestic Diesel

Osaka Prefecture and Osaka Metro have decided to switch the vehicles used in their self-driving bus trial in the Minamikawachi area from Chinese-made EV buses, originally planned, to the domestically produced Hino Poncho diesel bus. The trial will begin in July 2026, running for about five months with two buses on test drives that carry a driver onboard but no passengers. After confirming safety, the project aims to achieve Level 4 autonomous driving—where the system fully handles operation under defined conditions—by the end of fiscal 2028. Overview of the trial