Toyota Eyeing New Services Using Driverless Vehicles

Tokyo, June 9 (Jiji Press)--Toyota Motor Corp. has launched negotiations with firms including major convenience store operator Seven-Eleven Japan Co. and major parcel delivery firm Yamato Transport Co. for developing next-generation services using driverless autonomous vehicles, it has been learned. They will discuss ideas such as utilizing commercial electric vehicles as mobile convenience stores and driverless electric vehicles to transport goods between logistics centers located relatively close to one another, sources familiar with the matter said. At major international consumer electronics show CES in Las Vegas in January, Toyota unveiled its e-Pallet concept commercial electric vehicle, which features eco-friendliness and automated driving technology. Using the vehicle, the leading Japanese automaker plans to conduct tests for driverless delivery services in the United States jointly with e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc., Pizza Hut and other major firms in the early 2020s. Toyota is also mulling various new services using automated vehicles in Japan. Among the new ideas are one to operate mobile cafes with major U.S. coffee chain Starbucks Corp. and another to offer parcel delivery lockers with Toyota Industries Corp., a Toyota affiliate. Toyota has yet to decide when to begin tests for the potential new services. END