In autonomous and self-driving vehicle news are TIER IV, Plus, Wayve, Nissan, Stradvision and Hesai.
Plus and TIER IV Partner to Advance Autonomous Trucking in Japan
Plus, a leader in AI-driven autonomous trucking software, and TIER IV, the pioneer of open-source autonomous driving software, have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of Level 4 autonomous trucks in Japan. This collaboration aligns with a Japanese government initiative to address the country’s growing truck driver shortage.
The companies will co-develop a customized autonomous driving solution by integrating Plus’s virtual driver AI with TIER IV’s Autoware-based platform. With Japan facing a projected 36% shortfall in truck drivers by 2030, this partnership aims to enable more efficient freight transport and drive the deployment of driverless trucks on Japan’s expressways.
TIER IV Unveils Upgraded Sensor Fusion Development Kit for Autonomous Driving
TIER IV has announced a renewal of its sensor fusion development kit, streamlining its design from a dual-computer setup to a single unit for enhanced efficiency and seamless integration of advanced object recognition technologies. Originally launched in June 2023, the kit combines automotive cameras, high-performance LiDAR, and an autonomous driving computer, providing a comprehensive environment for sensor fusion and perception development.
The upgraded kit now supports NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin, enabling advanced computing for LiDAR processing, sensor fusion, and deep-learning-based image recognition. Available via the Edge.Auto GitHub repository, the renewed kit will be showcased at the embedded world Exhibition&Conference 2025, offering insights into its applications in autonomous driving.
Wayve Demos AI’s Rapid Adaptation to New Driving Environments
Wayve has released new data demonstrating its AI’s ability to quickly adapt to new driving environments and vehicle platforms with minimal additional data. Using its foundation model trained on diverse driving data, Wayve’s AI successfully adjusted to US roads with just 500 hours of new data, approaching UK-equivalent performance in urban and highway driving.
Key findings highlight fast adaptation to US-specific traffic rules, improved performance through multi-country data exposure, and an 8X performance boost when transitioning to a new vehicle platform. Wayve’s research supports its mission to scale intelligent driving automation globally, accelerating safe and efficient AI deployment for automakers.
Nissan Shows Driverless Autonomous Vehicle on Public Roads in Japan
Nissan has demonstrated its latest autonomous driving technology in Yokohama, marking Japan’s first test of a driverless vehicle navigating a complex urban environment. Developed for an upcoming mobility service, this innovation aims to address transportation challenges, including driver shortages due to an aging population.
The test vehicle, based on the Serena minivan, is equipped with advanced AI, 14 cameras, nine radars, and six LiDAR sensors for enhanced situational awareness. Nissan plans further testing with 20 vehicles from 2025 to 2026, targeting commercial deployment of autonomous mobility services by 2027 in collaboration with government agencies and local municipalities.
STRADVISION Surpasses 3 Million-Unit Deployment
STRADVISION has reached a major milestone, surpassing 3 million units in cumulative commercial production of its AI-powered vision perception technology. In 2024 alone, the company equipped 1.67 million vehicles with its SVNet software, marking a 59% YoY growth driven by a major German OEM. This achievement highlights the rising demand for lightweight, high-efficiency AI vision solutions in automotive applications.
Looking ahead, STRADVISION aims for aggressive expansion in 2025, strengthening its presence in key global markets, enhancing SVNet for higher automation levels, and preparing for a potential public offering. The company remains committed to innovation and leadership in AI-driven automotive vision systems.
Hesai Secures Landmark Lidar Partnership with Leading European OEM
Hesai Technology has announced an exclusive design win with a major European OEM to supply ultra-long-range automotive lidars for both ICE and EV models. This multi-year partnership, extending into the next decade, represents the largest global lidar program in the industry.
CEO David Li highlighted the agreement as a testament to Hesai’s performance and quality, reinforcing lidar’s critical role in advanced driving systems for safety and accident prevention. As of February 2025, Hesai has secured 120 design wins across 22 OEMs and, in December 2024, became the first lidar company to deliver over 100,000 units in a single month.