On September 4, T2 announced that it would begin a joint demonstration with TOTO to transport sanitary ware such as toilets and washbasins along trunk lines using T2's autonomous trucks.
The service will be implemented a total of four times starting September 18th, on certain sections of expressways between the Kansai and Kanto regions.
<TOTO and T2's Self-Driving Truck>
The demonstration will take place on a section of the highway leading from TOTO Shiga No. 2 Factory (Koka City, Shiga Prefecture) to TOTO Chiba Logistics Center (Yachiyo City, Chiba Prefecture). A driver will be on board, and the demonstration will be conducted at a Level 2 equivalent level.
<TOTO toilets>
The cargo consists of toilets and washbasins manufactured and sold by TOTO. The study will verify the automated driving routes and lead times for trunk line transport with the cargo loaded, the effectiveness of assumed operation patterns, and the impact on sanitary ware.
Considering the risk of breakage, sanitary ware must be handled with care, and given the worsening shortage of drivers, the challenge lies in how to ensure transportation quality and capacity.
Based on the results of this demonstration, T2 and TOTO will also consider collaborating on commercial operations using Level 2 autonomous trucks, which T2 began in July, and on trunk line transportation using Level 4 autonomous trucks, which will begin in 2027.
