Nippon Steel Corporation and TIER IV, Inc. have announced plans to introduce heavy-duty autonomous vehicles for steel transport at Nippon Steel’s Nagoya plant by fiscal 2025. The collaboration is part of a broader effort to improve logistics and address labor shortages in industrial operations.
Since fiscal 2023, the companies have been working together to develop an automated system for transporting steel plates within the plant. The system will use TIER IV’s open-source Autoware autonomous driving software, adapted to operate in complex industrial environments.
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The initiative targets efficiency and safety improvements by automating the movement of specialized transporters currently used to carry steel pallets. According to the companies, the system is being designed to reduce accident risks and support ongoing logistical operations amid a declining labor force.
TIER IV is contributing reference vehicle designs customized for the layout and operational conditions of steel manufacturing sites. The company is known for its work with open-source autonomous driving platforms and is a founding member of the Autoware Foundation.
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Nippon Steel, which has operations in Japan and abroad, has identified digital transformation and automation as part of its long-term strategy. The company’s focus areas include domestic business restructuring, global expansion, and efforts toward carbon neutrality.
