Cruise, General Motors, and Honda Thursday announced that they will launch a driverless ride service in Japan in early 2026. The service will use the Cruise Origin, a self-driving vehicle with no driver’s seat or steering wheel.
Customers will be able to hail a Cruise Origin using a smartphone app. The vehicle will then pick them up at a specified location and drive them to their destination, entirely through self-driving.
The Cruise Origin is designed to be a comfortable and spacious vehicle, with seating for up to six people facing-to-face. The vehicle also features a variety of amenities, including a digital entertainment system and Wi-Fi access.
The three companies plan to launch the driverless ride service in central Tokyo in early 2026. The service will start with a small fleet of Cruise Origins, and then expand to a larger fleet over time. The companies also plan to expand the service to other areas of Japan in the future.
The driverless ride service is expected to offer a number of benefits, including safety and convenience
Safety: Self-driving vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce traffic accidents caused by human error.
Accessibility: Self-driving vehicles can provide transportation to people who are unable to drive themselves, such as the elderly and disabled.
Convenience: Self-driving vehicles can take passengers to their destination without the need to worry about parking or traffic.
The launch of the driverless ride service in Japan is a significant milestone for the development of self-driving car technology. It is also a sign of the growing interest in self-driving cars from major automakers and technology companies.
