Nishinomiya and Hanshin Electric Railway launch autonomous EV bus trials

Nishinomiya City and Hanshin Electric Railway have launched a demonstration experiment using autonomous electric vehicle (EV) buses in the Koshien area. Supported by a subsidy from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the project aims to address the social challenge of bus driver shortages.

The experiment, which runs for approximately 100 days starting August 31, 2026, utilizes Level 2 autonomous driving technology. The buses will operate on two routes—a West Route toward Hamakoshien and an East Route toward the UR Hamakoshien housing complex—both starting and ending at Koshien Station.

By integrating AI technology to enhance perception and decision-making, the project seeks to achieve smoother, more human-like driving operations. This initiative serves as a stepping stone toward obtaining Level 4 autonomous driving certification, which allows for fully automated operation within specific environments, targeted for fiscal year 2027.