Japanese autonomous driving software developer TIER IV said it has made a strategic investment in Turing Drive, a Taiwan-based startup specialising in autonomous driving systems for low-speed, geofenced environments, as the two companies form a capital and business alliance to expand deployments in the Asia-Pacific region.
The partnership will focus on advancing open-source autonomous driving solutions for controlled-use scenarios such as logistics hubs, industrial sites and transport facilities, TIER IV said. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed.
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Turing Drive will leverage Pilot.Auto, TIER IV’s autonomous driving platform built on the Autoware open-source architecture. Autoware, led by TIER IV, is widely used globally as a foundational software stack for autonomous vehicle development and supports applications ranging from factory logistics to public transport and freight operations.
The collaboration targets low-speed and geofenced autonomous operations, where vehicles operate within predefined areas such as airports, ports, factories and commercial campuses. Turing Drive joined the Autoware Foundation in September 2024 and has since focused on deploying autonomous systems in closed environments, with operational experience in Taiwan, Japan and other Asian markets.
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TIER IV said the alliance will combine its software expertise with Turing Drive’s real-world deployment experience to enhance the performance and reliability of autonomous systems in practical commercial settings. The companies aim to accelerate adoption of autonomous mobility services tailored to regional needs in logistics and transportation.
“This partnership will accelerate the deployment of autonomous driving across Asia,” said Shinpei Kato, chief executive of TIER IV, adding that the collaboration aligns with the company’s goal of making autonomous driving technologies more accessible and scalable.
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Weilung Chen, chairman of Turing Drive, said Taiwan is seeing growing momentum in autonomous applications, particularly in logistics centres and airports. He said combining Turing Drive’s field experience with TIER IV’s Pilot.Auto platform would help deliver viable and sustainable autonomous mobility services.
TIER IV said the alliance strengthens its presence in the Asia-Pacific region and supports its strategy of promoting open-source autonomous driving solutions through partnerships that emphasise real-world deployment rather than experimental testing.
