Autonomous BYD bus trial takes place at Tokyo Haneda Airport
BYD has completed a 10-day trial operation of an autonomous bus at Tokyo Haneda Airport. The vehicle is BYD’s first autonomous bus tested and was carried out with Air Nippon Airways.
The BYD K9 bus can carry up to 57 people and the trial will involve almost Level 3 autonomous driving tests on the bus in a specific area of the airport to collect essential data.
“At ANA, we are constantly looking for ways to harness the latest technology to enhance operations and efficiency,” says Masaki Yokai, senior vice president, ANA. “In addition to marking a significant step forward for airports, fully electric autonomous buses will result in fewer emissions and decreased carbon footprints at airports. We are optimistic that these trials will give us the information we need to continue improving these technologies and will allow ANA to maintain its leadership in autonomous innovation.”
BYD has vehicles already operating in Japan, including in Okinawa, Fukushima, Iwate, Yamanashi, Tokyo, and Nagasaki.