Honda will soon begin a testing program for autonomous vehicles in Utsunomiya City and Haga Town, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It’s the first phase of an autonomous vehicle mobility service (MaaS) business, which Honda is spearheading in collaboration with General Motors and Cruise. First, Honda is creating a high-definition map of the area, and once ready, the autonomous vehicle—the Cruise AV—will be driven on public roads to develop and test how it adapts to the Japanese traffic environment as well as its rules and regulations.

Honda and Cruise are partnering on the testing program. Honda will conduct its tests and development of the fleet at a new testing operations site within a Honda facility in the Prefecture.

Looking ahead, Honda hopes to launch its MaaS business using Cruise Origin, a vehicle developed in tandem with Cruise and General Motors and intended exclusively for autonomous vehicle mobility service businesses. The operator of the new concern is Honda Mobility Solutions Co., Ltd., a Honda subsidiary for MaaS business.

Honda continues its legacy of reliable products and looks forward to creating new and long-lasting value for its customers by providing increased business mobility solutions with the Cruise AV.