Self-driving technology firm May Mobility has launched a new autonomous vehicle (AV) service in Japan, marking the company’s first deployment outside the United States. The Michigan-based company has equipped a customized version of Toyota’s electric e-Palette shuttle with its Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) autonomous driving system, showcasing the adaptability of its technology across different vehicle platforms.
The pilot service will operate on Toyota Motor Kyushu Company’s factory campus in Miyata, Fukuoka. The shuttle will navigate a designated loop with six stops, transporting employees and guests around the Lexus manufacturing site. While the vehicle operates autonomously, a human monitor will be present to comply with local safety regulations. The AV has undergone rigorous testing to ensure reliable performance.
May Mobility’s MPDM system uses sensor data to analyze thousands of potential scenarios in real-time, including novel situations, enabling the e-Palette to learn and improve continuously. This project also represents the first pairing of MPDM with an electric vehicle, furthering the company’s goal of advancing sustainable and accessible transportation solutions.
“Our long-standing relationship with Toyota is key to driving innovation within the mobility-as-a-service space, and I’m excited to expand our autonomous vehicle product offering with the e-Palette’s larger, EV form factor,” said Edwin Olson, May Mobility CEO and co-founder. “Toyota’s e-Palette platform together with May Mobility’s technologies will help drive us toward our vision of greater transportation accessibility across Japan.”
May Mobility has been active in Japan since 2022, collaborating with SoftBank and investor NTT on various autonomous driving initiatives. In the U.S., the company is expanding its footprint, partnering with Lyft to integrate its AVs into the ride-hailing platform in Atlanta by 2025 and launching fully driverless operations in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Other recent deployments include Peachtree Corners, Georgia, as well as locations in California, Detroit, and Minnesota.
