Japanese autonomous driving software developer TIER IV and UK automotive engineering group HORIBA MIRA have formed a strategic collaboration to accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicle technologies across the United Kingdom and Europe, the two companies said. The partnership brings together TIER IV’s open-source autonomous driving platforms with HORIBA MIRA’s validation, testing and regulatory compliance capabilities.
Under the agreement, TIER IV will provide its autonomous driving system, Minibus 2.0 electric vehicle, sensor packages and operational support, while HORIBA MIRA will deliver localisation, safety validation and engineering services to support regulatory approval in European markets.
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The first joint project will involve the deployment of an autonomous bus at HORIBA MIRA’s UK proving ground, which will serve as a foundation for future Level 4 autonomous operations.
TIER IV said it will leverage its experience from multiple Level 4 autonomous deployments in Japan to support European municipalities, transport operators and vehicle manufacturers. Its autonomous driving system is already used in a range of applications including off-road dump trucks, factory logistics and regional public transport. The partners said the collaboration is aimed at extending these use cases into new European operational environments.
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“TIER IV’s advanced autonomous driving platforms combined with HORIBA MIRA’s engineering and validation expertise will enable us to deliver safe, reliable and sustainable mobility solutions tailored to local requirements,” said Ko Miyoshi, chief operating officer of TIER IV. Alastair Evanson, head of business development and commercial operations at HORIBA MIRA, said the company has made significant investments in autonomous vehicle technologies and that the partnership strengthens its role in supporting European market localisation through testing and engineering services.
