Tokyo, April 23, 2026 – TIER IV, a pioneer in open-source software for autonomous driving, will showcase its core technologies along with Toyota’s e-Palette, a next-generation new mobility vehicle at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, Asia’s largest global innovation conference. As previously announced, TIER IV will also conduct a pilot test of an autonomous bus service, providing transportation for visitors during the event organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Beyond the technology presentations, TIER IV will also highlight case studies of successful autonomous driving deployments. The company has been collaborating with municipalities across Japan, advancing tests and real-world deployments to tackle critical issues such as driver shortages in an aging society. Initiatives in Tokyo, in particular, are expected to serve as leading model cases for urban mobility innovation nationwide.
Under the event’s theme of shaping the future of sustainable cities, TIER IV will offer hands-on opportunities to experience autonomous driving and share information about initiatives designed to address mobility challenges, aiming to disseminate insights from SusHi Tech Tokyo to the rest of Japan and the world.
Event details
- Dates: April 27-29, 2026
- Venue: Tokyo Big Sight
- Website: https://sushitech-startup.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/
Vehicle exhibit at the TIER IV booth
At its exhibition booth, TIER IV will showcase Toyota’s e-Palette, a next-generation mobility vehicle. The exhibit will highlight TIER IV’s autonomous driving system planned for integration into the vehicle, along with explanations of its core autonomous driving technologies and case studies from proof of concept tests and real-world deployments across Japan.
- TIER IV booth number: A-141
Session presentation
Shinpei Kato, founder and CEO of TIER IV, will be speaking at the session to present TIER IV’s autonomous driving technologies that will be integrated into Toyota’s e-Palette. By attending this session alongside a visit to the exhibition booth, participants will gain deeper insight into TIER IV’s initiatives in autonomous driving.
- Date and time: Monday, April 27, 2026, 11:05
- Venue: Tokyo Big Sight, 1st floor Atrium, Special Stage
- Speaker: Shinpei Kato, founder & CEO, TIER IV
Autonomous bus demonstration
Autonomous bus loop route
During the event, TIER IV’s Minibus 2.0 electric vehicle will carry passengers along an approximately 30-minute loop route in the Tokyo waterfront area, demonstrating how autonomous vehicles are being integrated into public transport networks. The route will start at Tokyo Big Sight, visiting Tokyo Teleport Station and the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), among other locations.
- Departure point: Tokyo Big Sight 1st floor Central Terminal, Autonomous Bus Stop No. 8 (boarding and alighting are also available at Miraikan)
- Boarding: First-come, first-served (no reservations required)
- Boarding and alighting available: Tokyo Big Sight(3 minute walk from "Tokyo Big Sight station"), Miraikan(4 minute walk from "Telecom Center station")
- Alighting only: Tokyo Teleport Station, Kokusai-Tenjijo Station
- Schedule: Service subject to change, depending on traffic and road conditions
- Passenger capacity: 13 persons (for safety reasons, only seated passengers are permitted)
For further details, please visit the event’s official website.
*Information in this press release is current as of the date of publication and is subject to change without notice.
About TIER IV
TIER IV stands at the forefront of deep tech innovation, pioneering Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving. With a comprehensive suite of platforms and services built around Autoware, TIER IV provides everything from software development and vehicle procurement to operational support. Through the Autoware ecosystem, TIER IV works with partners worldwide to shape the future of intelligent vehicles with open-source software, aiming to create mobility that is safer, more sustainable, and accessible to all.
Autoware is a registered trademark of the Autoware Foundation.
Media contact
pr@tier4.jp