Seino Holdings, Sumitomo Corporation, Daishinto, and REA announced on August 12 that they will begin a demonstration experiment of "Mile One," a regional mobility service combining an AI on-demand system with mixed passenger and cargo transport, in Toyoda-cho, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, starting October 1, 2025.
This project has been selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "Co-creation Model Demonstration Operation Project," making it the first of its kind in Japan as a collaborative effort between industry, government, and academia.
<Overview of "Mile One">
To address local issues such as declining public transport ridership and driver shortages, which are impacting daily life activities like shopping and medical appointments, Shimonoseki City will conduct a collaborative model demonstration using AI to optimize vehicle dispatch in real time, enabling efficient operation with fewer vehicles and drivers.
<Image of initiatives in Shimonoseki City>
In Toyoda-cho, Shimonoseki City, the "community bus" currently operates according to a timetable via telephone reservations, and an "AI on-demand function" will be introduced to its four routes.
Furthermore, in light of the increasing number of people who have difficulty shopping due to license surrender and aging, the same vehicles will also be used to introduce a "passenger-cargo mixed transport function" to deliver supermarket goods and other items to the homes of local residents.
By integrating transportation and logistics, we will build a new service model that supports daily life from both the perspectives of travel and shopping. We will also improve convenience by collaborating with existing transportation and service providers for travel outside the area, travel tailored to individual needs, and delivery.
The project implementation and operation are handled by Shimonoseki City, with Fuji Daiichi Kotsu, commissioned by the city, as the operating company. Sumitomo Corporation is in charge of overall management and building the Mile One Service/Passenger & Freight Combined AI On-Demand System, while Seino HD is responsible for building the logistics scheme based on its experience in passenger & freight combined transport.
Furthermore, Daishinto will be responsible for the passenger flow scheme, including operational support and promotion of usage, while REA will be in charge of the development, maintenance, and operation of the AI on-demand dispatch system.
In addition, universities and supermarkets within the city are collaborating to establish a pilot project management system that incorporates feedback from local residents.
The trial period is scheduled to run for six months, from October 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, with the aim of expanding the initiative nationwide, starting with Toyoda Town.
